Order a steak. My husband who gets steak everywhere and was once a cook said it was the best he's had. I ordered the shrimp and yum! A little pricey to eat there every week but a nice treat. Service is great! Update: we used to go to dinner here often and after multiple visits I can say that while the food is generally good it can be a little inconsistent. The service and ambiance is always good though.
(4)
Ben S.
Very friendly service and cute decor stood out at our dinner at Cha Bella. The menu was creative and is what drew us in - very vegetarian friendly. A knowledgable and bubbly server brought us everything quickly and most of the food was very delicious. Some of the items (Caesar salad and peach cobbler) lacked an outstanding flavor, but I can appreciate their process of farm-to-table and understand that sometimes comes at a cost. We'd be back.
(4)
David T.
You have got to be kidding me! Not one human in the entire place could figure out how to turn off the wind vortex (fan), which caused a pleasant spring evening to feel like Antarctica! The general manager was supposedly called, but to no avail. We expected silverware and napkins but had to ask for them after our food arrived. If you are looking for a fine dining experience look elsewhere. In fairness the food was very good, but at these prices we expect a meal and service without major issues!
(2)
Erin B.
Ate here for a rehearsal dinner recently. We had good service considering the number of people that we had in the room. I had two different drinks snd tried another while there. The Lavender Lemonade was the first, and it was fantastic - not too sweet. The next was the Tea Thyme, and that was definitely not lacking in alcohol. It was good and strong , but I liked the lemonade better. A couple of people around me had the Bourbon Street with fresh strawberries, and it was also delicious and refreshing! We started with a salad, which was your standard side salad with balsamic.the bread and oil for dipping was good. We asked for more since we didn't get enough bread for everyone, and they never brought more out. I ordered the pork chop with Gouda grits and peaches. The pork had a nice flavor, but the grits were very dry. Being in the south, especially Savannah, your grits game better be on point! We finished with the key lime pie for dessert, and it was your average key lime dessert. Overall, pretty good service for our large group and average food.
(3)
amy m.
What a disappointing experience! We are in town celebrating a birthday and wanted a farm to table place. Cha Bella came up as highly rated. I made a reservation for 7:30 this evening. We waited at the host stand for 5 minutes before anyone acknowledged us. We were seated. It was 10 minutes before they came to take a drink order. I asked about specials before the waiter walked away, sensing that he might not be back for a while. It took 20 minutes for our drinks to arrive. Then one of the drink orders was incorrect. At 8:15, our dinner order had not been taken. Finally at 8:20 the waiter came back to take our order. At 8:45 we ordered more drinks. Then at 9, after asking, our food came out, but had clearly been sitting in the back for a while. The shrimp on the risotto was terribly overcooked. Two identical orders looked vastly distant. The pork belly was ice cold and came out on a small plate, with the sweet potato puree looking like baby food. We decided that we weren't going to eat the food because it was such a poor experience. We spoke to a manager, who we thought was a waiter. He apologized and told us we didn't need to pay for anything including the drinks. We left $$ on the table and left. Highly disappointing. We will not return.
(1)
Denouncer P.
Very friendly and awesome service. I had a wonderful meal when I sat at the bar. Lizzy was extremely welcoming and friendly. I appreciated her suggestions and service. I have been several times in the past week and have not been disappointed by the food. It's moderately priced for the quality and portion size. This is my kinda place.
(4)
Adrián L.
Outstanding classy restaurant in the outskirts of downtown. We had the linguini served with vegetables and the shrimp risotto. The linguini is homemade with fresh vegetables that tasted like they were just picked from a garden. The risotto was perfectly cooked with fresh local shrimp. The service was excellent especially with entertaining our toddler.
(5)
LD M.
An ABSOLUTELY Delightful evening ! We greatly enjoyed our recent dinner (as part of a large group) at Cha Bella. In the first place, they managed our group perfectly. Service was spot on and felt quite individualized and personal rather than as a large group. Following cocktails in the bar - a beautifully designed space filled with warmth and tradition, we were seated on a balcony overlooking the main dining room, which allowed us to mix and talk among our group, while not feeling isolated from the general atmosphere and energy of the restaurant as a whole. Now to discuss the meal. It was really wonderful. To skip to the chase, the next day, and even a week later, those present that night were still talking about favorites of the night. That's about as good as it gets. To begin, I should say that the wine list was to be commended. Beautifully considered and selected to compliment the menu - of course with our group, several selections were chosen according to meals ordered - and compliments were shared across tables. Everyone was impressed with what they were drinking - and this extended as courses were served. The meal began with a salad, soup or appetizer and all were terrific. The salads featured the freshest of organic seasonal produce with just the right amount of dressing. The soups were striking in flavor and complexity - spoons were being passed to those who hadn't ordered soup and the other appetizers brought similar reactions and shared bites. Not a miss in the offerings. The main courses brought similar delight. I ordered the shrimp risotto and am still thinking about it weeks later as I write this. It had a completely different flavor and texture, being quite light for a risotto, than I expected. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and just slightly sweet - allowing the shrimp and the risotto - each with different flavor components and texture, to "marry" beautifully. My husband ordered the swordfish served with beautiful, and again, perfectly cooked organic spring vegetables and enjoyed every bite. I must say that several in the group ordered this dish and it perhaps received the most conversation later ( in raves) . We shared a chocolate mouse cake dessert - scraping the plate clean - and while it was delightful, it did not outshine the main course - which is the mark, I believe, of a truly wise and skilled chef with no need to try to end with something to send you home smiling...you should be smiling throughout the experience in his/her restaurant. This evening, combined with our stay at The President's Quarters - just down the street and a long time favorite - was delightful in every way. Cha Bella is definitely our favorite restaurant in Savannah now.
(5)
Steve G.
First time here. Visited this past Monday Sat at the bar. Will definitely be back. Had the shrimp and grits & spinach $ berry salad with feta & candied walnuts. All very fresh and flavorful. Bartender Thomas was courteous & attentive.
(5)
joy m.
Excellent outdoor patio to enjoy an evening cocktail. The charcuterie plate is wonderful and good to share if you have a group of people. The flatbread is not that great, it's lacking a flavor I can't quite put my finger on. The homemade fettucini was excellent. The grilled vegetables are seasoned perfectly and i would definitely recommend adding the chicken. Anything with their fried goat cheese is also delectable. There isn't a cocktail menu but it's great because they have seasonal fresh fruit juices and they can make any cocktail for you.
(4)
Mario R.
Very nice restaurant. Very friendly staff. The cousin style is organic and light. Genuine food and local products. Everything was delicious. We will be back soon.
(5)
Steve V.
Got here early for a date and ordered a Sazerac. The bartender was happy to make it, as he never made one before. Friendly service. We sat outside and ordered Shrimp Risotto and Perc Coffee braised short ribs. Both dishes were ok. I thought they lacked the punch that I was expecting for the price that I paid. Triple chocolate mousse cake for dessert and same thing; just kind of bland. The service was good and menu creative, but just lacking flavor. Also odd... we called for a reservation around 8 but were denied, so we settled for a early 6 o'clock. However, as we ate our courses we noticed that as we were leaving we were still the only people in the place. Not sure what the lady answering the phone was thinking. Anyways, nice atmosphere, but for the price we were not satisfied. Recommend Pink House or Elizabeth on 37 if you want a good upscale "local food" meal.
(3)
Susan S.
If you're a foodie, check this place out. Sit outside, just not on the swings. :-) Movies projected onto the wall with subtitles. Cool music in the background. The food is farm to table, so fresh and the ingredients pop through with each bite. I had the Caprese Salad and swordfish with house made fettuccine. Delish!
(5)
Lauren P.
Worth every penny! Food was delicious and had amazing atmosphere. Servers were great and would definitely go back again!
(5)
Michelle B.
So we had visitors in from out of town a few weeks ago and we decided to check this place out for Sunday brunch. What a mistake! We got there about 11:15am, they opened at 11:00am. When we arrived there was only one other table, which had 6 people at it. (This probably should have been a hint.) The service was lacking, in it took them 20 minutes just to bring us coffee. It then took another hour and 20 minutes for us to get our food! Nothing crazy, just regular old burnch food (waffles, eggs, etc.). And we were the second table there! Our server only checked on us once during this terrible wait time and was completely MIA for lomost 30 minutes. We talked about leaving (2 other tables that came in after us,did leave), but we wanted to see if the food would at least be worth the wait. WRONG! The food was mediocre at best. I was embarassed to have brought our guests here and will not be returning. You can get better breakfast and service at Parker's Market Downtown than this place. A complete waste of time and money.
(1)
Nicole W.
It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. The prices are too high for their food that's for sure.
(2)
Cynthia T.
Amazing food and #1 service! We had an amazing dinner last night! :) we shared a ceviche for the appetizer and then my friend had a beef carpachio and I had a vegetable risotto. Everything was delicious! Our server was very attentive to us. A bit off the touristy tract in Savannah but worth the extra walk to get there!
(5)
Donnie B.
Amazing ribeye steak ... Absolutely the best I have ever had. Well worth the time. Atmosphere was wonderful. Will def eat here again!
(5)
L K.
My husband and I enjoyed a lovely evening and delicious dinner at Cha-Bella during our 4-nite visit to Savannah. The restaurant is about two blocks 'away' from the tourist area, an easy walk on safe, residential streets. We enjoyed our dinner of fresh salad and fish, all expertly prepared and very tasty. Our meal was paired with a well-informed wine recommendation by our server. Since we were interested in viewing the status of the World Series, after our meal our server and the bartender made sure we were comfortable at the bar with a dessert sample to end the evening on a sweet note. I definitely recommend making a reservation at Cha-Bella.
(4)
Brooke D.
My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to grab a drink. We showed up before they were open, but we were invited to have a drink at the bar, no worries. We chatted with the staff and were even offered a sample of delicious homemade ravioli over crispy kale with a butternut squash sauce. We also ended up ordering the pork belly, which was awesome. The staff were friendly and more than willing to talk about a variety of things, from the football game on tv, to what they enjoyed in savannah, to their menu that included locally sourced ingredients. I work in downtown savannah and have no problem referring people here. The staff are amazing, the food we tried was beyond tasty, and the environment was very comfortable. Great experience.
(5)
Emily S.
Awesome atmosphere on the patio. Giant scallops. Good goat and beet salad ( and I don't even like beets). Swordfish chef special was fabulous! Good service. Even had a Kurt Russell look alike waiter! Totally go back for a nice evening.
(5)
Justin S.
Wife and I came here years ago and decided to have dinner here last night. Food was great - as we remembered - and the service was fantastic. The gazpacho was fantastic and the roasted romaine salad was great. The food and wine are a little pricey but not outrageous. Great ambience.
(4)
David E.
I absolutely loved Cha Bella! It was not crowded at all on a Sunday night, disappointingly so in fact. But we tried because a friend recommended it. We ate in the bar because the restaurant was so empty but that was fortuitous as the bar tender catered to us and was hilarious. We had a blast. We started with a Heirloom tomato & mozzarella salad tossed with apple wood smoked bacon and balsamic vinaigrette; awesome! The pork ribeye was delicious and moist but the shrimp & risotto was dry. The goat cheese cake with blueberry compote is to die for!!! Beautiful patio and herb garden. Cute place, good food and not crowded plus romantic, what else do you need?
(4)
Alicia S.
We dined here for Valentine's Day 2014, on which, they had a prix fix menu consisting of 4 courses. Let me start by saying the cuisine was excellent. Our service, however, was remarkably disapponting. We made reservations and arrived a bit early and the lovely hostess seated us straightaway. Our waiter was rushing around and came by finally and offered us tap water and we immediately informed him we told the hostess (who asked us before departing our table) we preferred sparkling. We are not rookies to fine dining, mind you. He returns about 5 minutes later and just sat the bottle and chilling bucket down on our table and rushed off. We filled our own glasses and sat waiting for him to come give us the usual spiel that usally accompanies service at a restaurant like this. Nope! He just walks up and says, Are you ready to order? 10 minutes later! We felt rushed and ignored. Here is the kicker...my husband was in a suit and tie, I was in a dress, and he ignored us like we must have wandered in this place on accident! We looked around the dining room and observed the tables beside us being treated with the utmost care and attention to detail. By dessert, we were 1/3 into our dish and he just drops the check off and flitters off to chat with his other tables. He never even bothered to clear our plates! By now, we both notice the obvious poor treatment and we are just ready to go. During the 2nd course, he even came to clear the salad I was still eating and he didnt even wait for me to put my fork down! Perhaps we looked too "uppity" for him, if you "catch my drift." So here is your 2 stars for such an horrific dinning experience. If you're visiting Savannah and want a fine dining experience, go to Alligator Soul! If you live here, like us, avoid this place like the plague. This place has patterned poor service as you can see and I would hate for anyone else to feel as humiliated as we did.
(2)
M B.
CIAO CHA-BELLA Truly the WORST customer service I have EVER experienced!!! This place was actually recommended by a Concierge & I can't imagine why! We called the "restaurant to find out their hours ( 5:30 - 9:00) & to see if we needed reservations (no). At 8:00, we called to see if they had valet parking (no). The woman asked if we were coming now (yes) and advised us of the plentiful parking next door. We arrived at 8:15. Nobody was at the hostess stand. The bar tender managed to tear himself away from watching Iron Man 2 to tell us someone should be with us soon. We stood there for 5 minutes & he could not be bothered to stop watching TV & go and get other staff . A waitress walked through the back of the restaurant to the kitchen, looked at us, didn't smile and kept walking. Another waitress walked through the front of the restaurant, saw us & said somebody should be with us soon. Eventually, a man (manager? owner?) came to the Host stand & asked if we were there to eat. Since that is the reason we go to restaurants, we said yes. He then told us he would have to ask the kitchen if this was ok, as the restaurant was going through renovations. What?! He made this statement as if it were a perfectly normal thing. The restaurant was not close to being even 1/8 full but decided to check & see if they were able to accept new customers?! And if you're going to renovate a kitchen, then why pretend to be open? And if you're not open, why extend an invitation to "come on down" on the phone? That was a CRAZY series of disconnects. The only thing there that was connected was the bar TV & the bar tender remained glued to it for the duration. This place needs a better business model & some serious customer service training! I am giving this place 1 star because I can't post a review with ZERO STARS
(1)
Louisa L.
Went here with some friends while we were visiting from out of town. We really enjoyed our dinner. The field pea hummus was great. The host was welcoming and extremely kid friendly to our 16 month old. The martinis were well made and the olives were great. We all enjoyed our entrees. It is a little pricey, but worth it.
(5)
Andie T.
It seems a little funny to be considered a regular at a restaurant that is two hours away from my home, but the fact that my husband and I have dined at Cha-Bella five times since the day after Christmas should speak for itself. We were driving home to Jacksonville from spending the holidays in Virginia and would be in Savannah around dinner time. We try to eat organic, farm-to-table as much as possible. We also do not eat gluten (I'm allergic, my husband is wonderfully supportive). Husband got on Yelp while I was driving and quickly found Cha-Bella when he searched for "organic" in Savannah. A quick call to the restaurant to ensure we would have a table and the coordinates were plugged into the GPS. The restaurant has five dining areas - front dining room, main dining room, upstairs dining room, bar and patio. We have not eaten in the bar or patio yet (but really excited to check out the beautiful patio when the weather is warm!). On every visit the service has been excellent, the food has been delicious and everyone has been more than happy to insure that I do not receive anything with gluten in it. The chef has even been out to speak to me on two different occasions. My husband has had the pork chop on three of our visits. Its HUGE! I've had the surf and turf with the ribeye twice (with a special sauce made just for me since the house sauce contains gluten). These items have always been cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. We've also had the scallops, the grilled romaine salad (different...not sure I'd do it again), mahi catch of the day, shrimp and risotto (its a lemon rosemary risotto - so its actually pretty light). Everything has always been cooked well, served at an appropriate temperature and arrived in proper order. Everyone has always been more than happy to accomodate my dietary restrictions and has checked back to make sure I am happy with my meal. There are many regulars and they are all greeted like family. We have seen several of the same faces there on our visits. On visit #4 one of the other regulars even picked up our tab! A previous reviewer stated everything was salty - I have NEVER had that experience. Another reviewer complained about loud babies and children - not the restaurants fault, but also I've never seen that. If you are concerned about quiet, request the front dining room. For the reviewer who was allergic to goat cheese and complained that it was on her field greens salad - if you have an allergy it is your responsibility to notify the server so they can assist you in your choices (see: gluten allergy, above). The menu is not huge, but its all fresh, delicious and seasonal. You can even see herbs being grown outside the front door! The wine list is also thoughtful and thorough (try the Selbach reisling!). All of the servers we have encountered have been extremely knowledgeable about the menu, the daily specials and the wine list. A couple of other reviewers have mentioned a butter poached lump crab and shrimp risotto - I have never seen that on the menu, but if I ever do, its mine! Perhaps when we go for visit #6 next week I'll be lucky!
(5)
Pam G.
On a recent trip to Savannah, Cha Bella was highly recommended by several locals so we knew we had to try it. There were 6 of us and we all really enjoyed our meal. we started with the Charcuterie platter which had some unique and delicious items on it. The best of which was a blueberry stilton cheese. I usually do not like stilton, but the blueberry cut the 'stinkiness' and made it delicious. There were 6 of us for dinner and I think that 4 of us ordered the blackened shrimp with risotto and it was very good. This was everyone's favorite meal in Savannah until we went to the Olde Pink House!
(4)
Carol G.
The menu included a wide variety of foods that all sounded delicious and fresh. The cocktails were also very enticing with some very unique options using fresh, in season ingredients. The service was friendly and timely. I would definitely suggest reservations as this is a popular spot with the locals, as well as the tourists.
(4)
Greg L.
Cha Bella was recommended to me by a friend so I visited it while in Savannah for St. Patrick's Day. I also looked it up on Yelp to get other individuals' input on this restaraunt before I made advance reservations. The food and service were very good, but considering the prices, it would be expected. We had the scallops as an appetizer and the caprese as our salad selections. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the caprese was excellent. The main meals were served quickly and were also prepared to our specifications. Parking was difficult, probably due to the St. Patrick's Day weekend, as Cha Bella only has street parking and no individual lot. We had to walk three blocks and it would not have been bad had it not been raining that evening. We were seated in the front room next to the door and this area can be somewhat loud, especially when a group of 8-10 people are seated in the same room as happened during our dining experience. My guest and I had to speak somewhat loudly to be heard at times. The wait staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and the recommended malbec wine was perfect for our evening.
(4)
Jeannie R.
This place had a really nice atmosphere and good food, but the service was dreadful. I hate to give such a bad review for a restaurant that served good food, but wow is it in need of some serious management intervention. There was a problem with flies outside that could have been easily corrected or at least controlled. When we brought it to the attention of the server, after discovering flys swimming in our wine and cocktails, we were not offered any solution nor any replacements until making a serious complaint. The wait between courses was unnecessarily long and the staff seemed to be completely overwhelmed. Although it is customary for gratuity to be included in large parties, in this instance there were six of us and I resented the imposed 20% gratuity when I felt we had experienced such horrible service. I have no problem with tipping well in excess of 20% for standard and above service, but really don't want to be forced to pay 20% when I feel we have been neglected. I have to wonder if the server was not interested in offering her best service when she didn't have to bother as she was guaranteed the 20%. Like I stated, I hate to leave such a negative review when I actually felt the food was good, but I certainly won't be going back.
Disappointment. Perhaps we expected too much. But the high prices, the organic labels, the locally-grown claims, the recommendation from a long-time resident all pointed in the right direction. Falsely... unfortunately. First, and most important, the food was not very good. We had a large party, 13 in fact, and not a single dish was a knockout. And, as a group, we had almost every dish on the menu, except the mahi. The most common complaint was that the dishes were too salty. The risotto and shrimp was so salty that one person could not eat much of it and even the 12 year old, a blossoming foodie, ate his risotto, but also commented that is was too salty. The surf and turf special was bland and uninteresting. The grouper special was ok, but the onions on top didnt seem to go and the dish as a whole was too salty. Another dish that was ordered was a "surf and turf" special, featuring shrimp, scallops and steak. The dish was pronounced bland, except for the vegetables, which were too salty. I started with the soup of the day, a lamb soup. it was not bad, but, of course, was overly salty. For my main course, I went with the spinach and garlic ravioli. I choose this dish as the restaurant emphasizes its fresh and local angle. I had high hopes for the freshly made pasta and the interesting sauce. While the pasta was good, the filling was uninteresting and the sauce did not match the filling well. The dish did, however, buck the salty trend. Overall, the food was a disappointment and wildly over-priced for the quality that came out of the kitchen. The dinner was not worth the price.
(2)
Ana P.
Super mega delicious! Their pork belly is outstanding! I had pasta with garlic creamy sauce and seasonal vegetables which was excellent. The service was very good as well. Nice ambiance and decor.
(5)
Peggy K.
I dined at cha bella this past Fri. night, May 2. I was with a group of 10 childhood friends celebrating the year of our 60th birthdays. The restaurant came highly recommended and we looked forward to a great meal as we reconnected with our childhood friends. We were sadly very disappointed. 9 out of 10 of us found our meal either inedible or just bland and ordinary. To add insult to injury, the prices were high. I don't mind paying but, I do expect a certain quality and certainly an enjoyable meal for my hard earned money. 3 of us had the grilled pork chop. It was so tough, we could barely chew or cut it. It was drenched with spiced apples that did not go well with the dish. Everything was also cold and even the sides were dripping with the sticky sweet spiced apples. Not a good combo. 2-3 others had the white shrimp which I think was in risotto. They said it was just so-so, pretty bland. Can't wait to return to Savannah but, we WON'T be returning to Cha Bella. Too many great restaurants available to choose from!!!
(1)
Jeff Y Laura K.
Exquisite selection and mix of ingredients, amazing service, nice ambience. My raviolis were fantastic with touches of pecans and sweet potatoes. It is one of the best places I have tried in savannah.
(5)
Bryan V.
Cha Bella? More like Cha Brutto. I went here with my family and after getting our bread/appetizers, it took 40 minutes for them to bring out a single entree. Yeah, out of 5 entrees they brought 1 out. Since we wait for everyone to have their food before eating, it sat there for 10 minutes before the next entree came out, then a few minutes later they brought the rest out. What kind of restaurant brings out dishes one at a time? Not even McDonald's does that. Not even fucking Golden Corral does that (because it's a buffet). The best part of all was that the first two entrees were chicken, and both were so undercooked that they were RAW not just in the middle but on the sides as well. When we brought this to their attention, they offered to throw it back on the grill or whatever. By the time it came back out, the meal was over and all we had was two shitty leftovers for the next day. I don't think they even offered to take it off the check. All of these factors add up to one of the most disappointing and awkward dining experiences I've ever had in my entire life. (Since you can't give 0 stars, I'll say that the 1 star is for the yogurt-based soup, which was quite delicious)
(1)
Chris M.
Made the reservation for our anniversary and the hostess stated that the earliest they could take us (2 people) was 8:30. That was fine as we'd both had a late lunch and eat late as well. When we got there, the restaurant was not even half full. But, whatever. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the service was excellent. The food was pretty good but not spectacular. Everything is stated as being local, which appeals greatly to us, though I'm not sure where you get "fresh" local raspberries in October. Good wine and craft beer list. Prices on everything are reasonable. I feel that based on the calibre of food, Cha Bella can be enjoyed several times a week and not limited strictly to special occasions. This is "New American" cuisine and is not "white table cloth" fine dining. Bon appetite.
(4)
Nitin S.
Great concept--local organic produce are the centerpiece of the cooking here, and the produce is fabulous. They did a pretty good job with our dietary restrictions (a vegan and a vegetarian), although I suppose I expected a bit more given the concept here. The heirloom tomato salad was fabulous and all of the cheeses used were great. The fettucine was also quite good--the caramelized onion crema wasn't too heavy, like your typical alfredo sauce. Dining al fresco on a nice night was dreamy. The main issue is that for the price, as others have suggested, you expect a little more "bang" in your meal. But all in all, a good choice in Savannah.
(4)
Jasmine G.
I've had several experiences at Cha Bella, all of which were very pleasant. Service is always top notch and I am extremely picky about attentiveness (or lack thereof). I really enjoy that they serve organic and seasonal items on their menu and prepare them well. Their wine list and bar staff are also phenomenal. My best experience by far, was when my wedding reception was held there. All of my guests were really impressed with the food, staff, and atmosphere. They created a custom, themed menu to go along with our carnival/circus style wedding. The flexibility on the chef and the staff's part was really appreciated, especially when we had to reschedule after we had a death in the family the week of our original date. Cha Bella is a local business worth supporting. It's definitely one of the things my husband and I miss about living in Savannah.
(4)
Jessica K.
3.5 stars for an enjoyable night out. The interior of Cha Bella makes for a great atmosphere for a multi-course dinner with friends. My party of 5 was seated promptly and in a nice location, not stuffed into the back of the restaurant as so often happens with larger parties. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu, made suggestions, and cracked jokes. He was pleasant and attentive, not at all obtrusive. The service and atmosphere was the highlight of the evening. We all enjoyed the food, but something was missing.. some sort of wow factor. I don't want to sound stingy, but for the price we all expected to be amazed. I wish there had been a few more options in the appetizer/small plate section. I did very much enjoy my dessert though-- a goat cheese infused cheese cake with fresh strawberries and a pecan crust. It was of course a very muggy August night, so we sat inside, but I could see the beautiful patio being a great backdrop for trying Cha Bella again.
(3)
Erica S.
Cha Bella is one of those places that is inconsistent. You either love it or hate it. It is never my first choice since there are so many great places to eat in Savannah. Frankly, I think the concept is good, but the execution is average and with the prices are cra-zee high.. I do not recommend it. I have eaten there more than half a dozen times with friends who insist it is great and we have to go there. Since I want so much to like the place, i give in. One meal out of the +6 I have had was very good. It was a soft shell crab on a a bed of greens and lovely dressing. Extra tasty and excellent presentation. BUT I have had ridiculous meals there too. Risotto that was bland and plain ol' shrimp placed on top of the risotto to make you think it was "Shrimp Risotto." Cold food placed on hot plates. Entrees coming out at different times. Poor selections or the kitchen has run out of so many items the selection is poor. I think the buzz is the marketing and Organic theme. The food is not great and service avergae at best. The mixed drinks are the weakest in town. Do not bother.
(2)
Moira S.
Love this place, NEVER have had a bad experience. Food is always fresh and different. Service is outstanding. Vic, the indian tsunami, is a true gentleman.
(5)
Nemo L.
The thin crust flatbread was alright, but the drinks were the weakest I've ever had in my life, which frankly, is an unforgivable sin in the South.
(3)
Ann M.
I had the chance to dine at Cha Bella's recently and I enjoyed my experience very much. I was with a group, 18 of us, and our service was prompt and excellent. I had the Grilled, Organic Local Harvest Eggplant & Oven-Warmed Plum Tomatoes with Farm Fresh Sweet Basil. This was delightful. I loved the flavors of the eggplant and plum tomatoes. They were roasted perfectly. My only request was that my Goat Cheese Nugget was a bit over cooked. It had a good crisp texture but it was a bit too dry. I ahs the filet for my entree and per the menu it is served with a mushroom demi-glace. I am allergic to mushrooms and the server informed me it would be no trouble to change it to a pan reduction sauce. I am happy to say they did a fine job and there was no mushroom or hint of mushroom otherwise this review might have been done from an ER room. Our group was seated in the balcony of the restaurant. My only complaint was that it was a bit too dim. Mood lighting goes only so far. Just turn it up a tiny notch and it would have been perfect. Over all I enjoyed my dinner very much and in fact have recommended others to dine there as well. When in Savannah after all the southern food you can handle Cha Bella's is a refreshing, organic lighter fare. Big yums from me! I'll go back for sure.
(3)
Cynthia B.
Today is my last day living in Savannah, so I had to stop by Yelp and give five stars to my favorite restaurant in the city. During our time here, we tried all the restaurants the locals consider "best," and this was definitely ours. Chef Matthew Roher is a fan of local veggies, meats and seafoods and has a particular magic with vegetables -- we subscribed to Cha Bella's farm box, too, which I also recommend. The food tastes decadent and wholesome all at once. The service is impeccable, the atmosphere upscale but comfortable. Try to get a seat near the fireplace in the wintertime or on the patio during the spring.
(5)
Clay J.
My wife and I went here looking for a light, healthy supper and we were not disappointed. I had the steak medium rare and actually received it medium rare. My wife had grouper and loved it. The only knock on this place was the lack of menu options, but that is probably because they do everything local and organically.
(4)
Matthew H.
Very inconsistent meal. Started off with one diner requesting more information about a cocktail special. Her one request was that it wasn't sweet. After she was assured that it wasn't, she ordered it. It took a full half hour to receive it and multiple times asking the waitress ( who's excuse was 'he's backed up') to finally receive an undrinkably sweet martini. Aargh. Wine was good. Salads were excellant, mine had local cheese on top- great. They brought bread to the table, which had the texture of wonder bread. That came with olive oil for dipping, which was terribly low quality. Either they thinned it with vegetable oil or they buy it in 55 gallon drums. Either way, very oily. The entrees come and they are a mixed bag as well. My partner had the homemade ravioli special- killer. Really great. I had the georgia shrimp risotto off the main menu. The risotto had been cooked in December and reheated, a pasty rubbery mess. The shrimp were the only edible portion of the entree. Luckily the deserts were better, with the goat cheese cheesecake being the standout. My takeaway was I will go here if others request it but won't suggest it to others, too much money for inconsistent food.
(3)
Karen A.
We ate at Cha Bella on July 3, 2010 after reading incredible reviews. Our reservation was for 8pm on a Saturday evening on a busy holiday weekend. The sullen hostess seated us in a HUGE room with one other party - which left within twenty minutes. That left the 2 of us in a room that seats at least 50 people. It was very uncomfortable. Why didn't they seat us with other people on patio or the smaller front room? The food was good, not great. The drinks tasted like they scrimped on the booze. Had to ask for milk for my coffee 4 times. And the ladies room look like a homeless person had been living there. Very unprofessional staff and management.
(1)
Vivian L.
-1 star for not remaking my salad seriously due to a food allergy -1 star for serving an overcooked entree -1 star for serving a cold dessert on a warm plate +1 star for comping the meal I was so, so , so excited when I found this restaurant in Savannah.
(3)
Tommy L.
Farm to table. Organic. Local. Those are just some of the descriptors for Cha Bella. Housed in a bit of an offbeat part of downtown, Cha Bella's focus on providing local, organic fare is apparent in all menu selections. Veggies all come from Hampton Island farm, 45 minutes south of Savannah. If I recall, Cha is also in the process of building their own garden in town to provide veggies and greens. Their outdoor patio is not to be missed except maybe in July/Aug/Sept when you don't want to be outside anywhere in Savannah. The menu is supurb and rotates seanally. Wait staff is required to spend time at the farm learning about the food. My vists haven't been subjected to the issues the other 2 posters had. Every time the servers have been prompt, knowledgable and the food always spectacular. Of all the restaurants in Savannah, I'm having my rehearsal dinner there, so that's my confidence in the establishment. If you are looking for great, seasonal local and organic fare in Savannah, Cha Bella is the pioneer and shouldn't be missed....
(5)
Byron K.
The shrimp and risotto was a little bland, the shrimpover cooked and the risotto not as textured as I prefer, a little too soupy for my taste. My wife had a salad as an entree and it was too small. Waiter should have recommended something else or reminded the salads are small. The Pineapple margarita was not good. The waiter took away our soup too fast and brought the wrong beer. Left everything on the tab. Would have been nice if he had hustled out a new drink or taken it off the bill. We had had Alligator Soul the night before so maybe that wasn't fair to Cha Bella and it was just an off night.
(2)
Patricia M.
On vacation from the Bay Area, my husband & I ate here last night and absolutely loved everything about this fabulous restaurant. I had 4 courses, starting with lovely carrot soup, followed by their specialty warm eggplant & plum tomato salad. Oh & I should mention the great cucumber & watermelon cocktail-- recommended by Erica, who was delightfully attentive & sweet all evening. I ordered the small plate scallops with leeks as my main & the pot de creme (espresso flavored) dessert. I tasted my husband's short ribs which we both thought were excellent. Also he pronounced his house salad (with mint dressing) an all time favorite. So go there & enjoy!
(5)
Scott L.
Changes ownership and hours too often. The flat bread pizzas leave a little to be desired. Sit on the large patio and order drinks for the best experience. Skip the fare. Friendly service.
(3)
Jeni F.
I was excited to try this place to see what they are able to do with local organic and free-range fare, especially because one of our dining companions is a vegetarian. I had the tomato basil soup and the eggplant and goat cheese salad. The soup really didn't have much flavor to it, but the salad was delicious. My husband had the mushroom risotto and was pretty disappointed. I tried it too and felt it wasn't seasoned correctly - just bland (I've been experiencing bland at restaurants a lot lately!). We did enjoy the brandy creme brulee and our server was absolutely hilarious. For the price, I don't feel like our meal at Cha-Bella was a memorable experience.
(3)
Bob B.
My wife and I had one of the best dining experiences ever at Cha Bella. The restaurant is nicely modern yet has a romantic touch without feeling fancy (ask for upstairs), the service was outstanding and the flavors were fabulous. Our server was very knowledgeable, attentive and made us feel excited about our food options. We tried the pork belly appetizer and it was melt in your mouth good. Entrees of short ribs and grouper were both full of flavor. We spent three days exploring Savannah's best restaurants and were surprised to find Cha Bella was our favorite meal.
(5)
Iris F.
While visiting Savannah for the first time I made sure I dined at a nice and pleasant restaurant so I came across Cha-Bella, it's organic and has a new menu that appealed to me. I changed my mind to what I was in a mood for and realized the selection was rather limited. Be aware that if you do order the wrong item, you'll be charged; ordered the wrong salad was charged. That was my first and it was my fault, I guess. I was also charged for splitting my meal with my daughter, she's little and couldn't eat an entire meal. Ah well. This location is hard to spot but you can't miss it. Afterwards go a walk by the river. I would go again and this time i'll know what to expect from a small restaurant.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kalani M.
Order a steak. My husband who gets steak everywhere and was once a cook said it was the best he's had. I ordered the shrimp and yum! A little pricey to eat there every week but a nice treat. Service is great! Update: we used to go to dinner here often and after multiple visits I can say that while the food is generally good it can be a little inconsistent. The service and ambiance is always good though.
(4)Ben S.
Very friendly service and cute decor stood out at our dinner at Cha Bella. The menu was creative and is what drew us in - very vegetarian friendly. A knowledgable and bubbly server brought us everything quickly and most of the food was very delicious. Some of the items (Caesar salad and peach cobbler) lacked an outstanding flavor, but I can appreciate their process of farm-to-table and understand that sometimes comes at a cost. We'd be back.
(4)David T.
You have got to be kidding me! Not one human in the entire place could figure out how to turn off the wind vortex (fan), which caused a pleasant spring evening to feel like Antarctica! The general manager was supposedly called, but to no avail. We expected silverware and napkins but had to ask for them after our food arrived. If you are looking for a fine dining experience look elsewhere. In fairness the food was very good, but at these prices we expect a meal and service without major issues!
(2)Erin B.
Ate here for a rehearsal dinner recently. We had good service considering the number of people that we had in the room. I had two different drinks snd tried another while there. The Lavender Lemonade was the first, and it was fantastic - not too sweet. The next was the Tea Thyme, and that was definitely not lacking in alcohol. It was good and strong , but I liked the lemonade better. A couple of people around me had the Bourbon Street with fresh strawberries, and it was also delicious and refreshing! We started with a salad, which was your standard side salad with balsamic.the bread and oil for dipping was good. We asked for more since we didn't get enough bread for everyone, and they never brought more out. I ordered the pork chop with Gouda grits and peaches. The pork had a nice flavor, but the grits were very dry. Being in the south, especially Savannah, your grits game better be on point! We finished with the key lime pie for dessert, and it was your average key lime dessert. Overall, pretty good service for our large group and average food.
(3)amy m.
What a disappointing experience! We are in town celebrating a birthday and wanted a farm to table place. Cha Bella came up as highly rated. I made a reservation for 7:30 this evening. We waited at the host stand for 5 minutes before anyone acknowledged us. We were seated. It was 10 minutes before they came to take a drink order. I asked about specials before the waiter walked away, sensing that he might not be back for a while. It took 20 minutes for our drinks to arrive. Then one of the drink orders was incorrect. At 8:15, our dinner order had not been taken. Finally at 8:20 the waiter came back to take our order. At 8:45 we ordered more drinks. Then at 9, after asking, our food came out, but had clearly been sitting in the back for a while. The shrimp on the risotto was terribly overcooked. Two identical orders looked vastly distant. The pork belly was ice cold and came out on a small plate, with the sweet potato puree looking like baby food. We decided that we weren't going to eat the food because it was such a poor experience. We spoke to a manager, who we thought was a waiter. He apologized and told us we didn't need to pay for anything including the drinks. We left $$ on the table and left. Highly disappointing. We will not return.
(1)Denouncer P.
Very friendly and awesome service. I had a wonderful meal when I sat at the bar. Lizzy was extremely welcoming and friendly. I appreciated her suggestions and service. I have been several times in the past week and have not been disappointed by the food. It's moderately priced for the quality and portion size. This is my kinda place.
(4)Adrián L.
Outstanding classy restaurant in the outskirts of downtown. We had the linguini served with vegetables and the shrimp risotto. The linguini is homemade with fresh vegetables that tasted like they were just picked from a garden. The risotto was perfectly cooked with fresh local shrimp. The service was excellent especially with entertaining our toddler.
(5)LD M.
An ABSOLUTELY Delightful evening ! We greatly enjoyed our recent dinner (as part of a large group) at Cha Bella. In the first place, they managed our group perfectly. Service was spot on and felt quite individualized and personal rather than as a large group. Following cocktails in the bar - a beautifully designed space filled with warmth and tradition, we were seated on a balcony overlooking the main dining room, which allowed us to mix and talk among our group, while not feeling isolated from the general atmosphere and energy of the restaurant as a whole. Now to discuss the meal. It was really wonderful. To skip to the chase, the next day, and even a week later, those present that night were still talking about favorites of the night. That's about as good as it gets. To begin, I should say that the wine list was to be commended. Beautifully considered and selected to compliment the menu - of course with our group, several selections were chosen according to meals ordered - and compliments were shared across tables. Everyone was impressed with what they were drinking - and this extended as courses were served. The meal began with a salad, soup or appetizer and all were terrific. The salads featured the freshest of organic seasonal produce with just the right amount of dressing. The soups were striking in flavor and complexity - spoons were being passed to those who hadn't ordered soup and the other appetizers brought similar reactions and shared bites. Not a miss in the offerings. The main courses brought similar delight. I ordered the shrimp risotto and am still thinking about it weeks later as I write this. It had a completely different flavor and texture, being quite light for a risotto, than I expected. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and just slightly sweet - allowing the shrimp and the risotto - each with different flavor components and texture, to "marry" beautifully. My husband ordered the swordfish served with beautiful, and again, perfectly cooked organic spring vegetables and enjoyed every bite. I must say that several in the group ordered this dish and it perhaps received the most conversation later ( in raves) . We shared a chocolate mouse cake dessert - scraping the plate clean - and while it was delightful, it did not outshine the main course - which is the mark, I believe, of a truly wise and skilled chef with no need to try to end with something to send you home smiling...you should be smiling throughout the experience in his/her restaurant. This evening, combined with our stay at The President's Quarters - just down the street and a long time favorite - was delightful in every way. Cha Bella is definitely our favorite restaurant in Savannah now.
(5)Steve G.
First time here. Visited this past Monday Sat at the bar. Will definitely be back. Had the shrimp and grits & spinach $ berry salad with feta & candied walnuts. All very fresh and flavorful. Bartender Thomas was courteous & attentive.
(5)joy m.
Excellent outdoor patio to enjoy an evening cocktail. The charcuterie plate is wonderful and good to share if you have a group of people. The flatbread is not that great, it's lacking a flavor I can't quite put my finger on. The homemade fettucini was excellent. The grilled vegetables are seasoned perfectly and i would definitely recommend adding the chicken. Anything with their fried goat cheese is also delectable. There isn't a cocktail menu but it's great because they have seasonal fresh fruit juices and they can make any cocktail for you.
(4)Mario R.
Very nice restaurant. Very friendly staff. The cousin style is organic and light. Genuine food and local products. Everything was delicious. We will be back soon.
(5)Steve V.
Got here early for a date and ordered a Sazerac. The bartender was happy to make it, as he never made one before. Friendly service. We sat outside and ordered Shrimp Risotto and Perc Coffee braised short ribs. Both dishes were ok. I thought they lacked the punch that I was expecting for the price that I paid. Triple chocolate mousse cake for dessert and same thing; just kind of bland. The service was good and menu creative, but just lacking flavor. Also odd... we called for a reservation around 8 but were denied, so we settled for a early 6 o'clock. However, as we ate our courses we noticed that as we were leaving we were still the only people in the place. Not sure what the lady answering the phone was thinking. Anyways, nice atmosphere, but for the price we were not satisfied. Recommend Pink House or Elizabeth on 37 if you want a good upscale "local food" meal.
(3)Susan S.
If you're a foodie, check this place out. Sit outside, just not on the swings. :-) Movies projected onto the wall with subtitles. Cool music in the background. The food is farm to table, so fresh and the ingredients pop through with each bite. I had the Caprese Salad and swordfish with house made fettuccine. Delish!
(5)Lauren P.
Worth every penny! Food was delicious and had amazing atmosphere. Servers were great and would definitely go back again!
(5)Michelle B.
So we had visitors in from out of town a few weeks ago and we decided to check this place out for Sunday brunch. What a mistake! We got there about 11:15am, they opened at 11:00am. When we arrived there was only one other table, which had 6 people at it. (This probably should have been a hint.) The service was lacking, in it took them 20 minutes just to bring us coffee. It then took another hour and 20 minutes for us to get our food! Nothing crazy, just regular old burnch food (waffles, eggs, etc.). And we were the second table there! Our server only checked on us once during this terrible wait time and was completely MIA for lomost 30 minutes. We talked about leaving (2 other tables that came in after us,did leave), but we wanted to see if the food would at least be worth the wait. WRONG! The food was mediocre at best. I was embarassed to have brought our guests here and will not be returning. You can get better breakfast and service at Parker's Market Downtown than this place. A complete waste of time and money.
(1)Nicole W.
It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. The prices are too high for their food that's for sure.
(2)Cynthia T.
Amazing food and #1 service! We had an amazing dinner last night! :) we shared a ceviche for the appetizer and then my friend had a beef carpachio and I had a vegetable risotto. Everything was delicious! Our server was very attentive to us. A bit off the touristy tract in Savannah but worth the extra walk to get there!
(5)Donnie B.
Amazing ribeye steak ... Absolutely the best I have ever had. Well worth the time. Atmosphere was wonderful. Will def eat here again!
(5)L K.
My husband and I enjoyed a lovely evening and delicious dinner at Cha-Bella during our 4-nite visit to Savannah. The restaurant is about two blocks 'away' from the tourist area, an easy walk on safe, residential streets. We enjoyed our dinner of fresh salad and fish, all expertly prepared and very tasty. Our meal was paired with a well-informed wine recommendation by our server. Since we were interested in viewing the status of the World Series, after our meal our server and the bartender made sure we were comfortable at the bar with a dessert sample to end the evening on a sweet note. I definitely recommend making a reservation at Cha-Bella.
(4)Brooke D.
My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to grab a drink. We showed up before they were open, but we were invited to have a drink at the bar, no worries. We chatted with the staff and were even offered a sample of delicious homemade ravioli over crispy kale with a butternut squash sauce. We also ended up ordering the pork belly, which was awesome. The staff were friendly and more than willing to talk about a variety of things, from the football game on tv, to what they enjoyed in savannah, to their menu that included locally sourced ingredients. I work in downtown savannah and have no problem referring people here. The staff are amazing, the food we tried was beyond tasty, and the environment was very comfortable. Great experience.
(5)Emily S.
Awesome atmosphere on the patio. Giant scallops. Good goat and beet salad ( and I don't even like beets). Swordfish chef special was fabulous! Good service. Even had a Kurt Russell look alike waiter! Totally go back for a nice evening.
(5)Justin S.
Wife and I came here years ago and decided to have dinner here last night. Food was great - as we remembered - and the service was fantastic. The gazpacho was fantastic and the roasted romaine salad was great. The food and wine are a little pricey but not outrageous. Great ambience.
(4)David E.
I absolutely loved Cha Bella! It was not crowded at all on a Sunday night, disappointingly so in fact. But we tried because a friend recommended it. We ate in the bar because the restaurant was so empty but that was fortuitous as the bar tender catered to us and was hilarious. We had a blast. We started with a Heirloom tomato & mozzarella salad tossed with apple wood smoked bacon and balsamic vinaigrette; awesome! The pork ribeye was delicious and moist but the shrimp & risotto was dry. The goat cheese cake with blueberry compote is to die for!!! Beautiful patio and herb garden. Cute place, good food and not crowded plus romantic, what else do you need?
(4)Alicia S.
We dined here for Valentine's Day 2014, on which, they had a prix fix menu consisting of 4 courses. Let me start by saying the cuisine was excellent. Our service, however, was remarkably disapponting. We made reservations and arrived a bit early and the lovely hostess seated us straightaway. Our waiter was rushing around and came by finally and offered us tap water and we immediately informed him we told the hostess (who asked us before departing our table) we preferred sparkling. We are not rookies to fine dining, mind you. He returns about 5 minutes later and just sat the bottle and chilling bucket down on our table and rushed off. We filled our own glasses and sat waiting for him to come give us the usual spiel that usally accompanies service at a restaurant like this. Nope! He just walks up and says, Are you ready to order? 10 minutes later! We felt rushed and ignored. Here is the kicker...my husband was in a suit and tie, I was in a dress, and he ignored us like we must have wandered in this place on accident! We looked around the dining room and observed the tables beside us being treated with the utmost care and attention to detail. By dessert, we were 1/3 into our dish and he just drops the check off and flitters off to chat with his other tables. He never even bothered to clear our plates! By now, we both notice the obvious poor treatment and we are just ready to go. During the 2nd course, he even came to clear the salad I was still eating and he didnt even wait for me to put my fork down! Perhaps we looked too "uppity" for him, if you "catch my drift." So here is your 2 stars for such an horrific dinning experience. If you're visiting Savannah and want a fine dining experience, go to Alligator Soul! If you live here, like us, avoid this place like the plague. This place has patterned poor service as you can see and I would hate for anyone else to feel as humiliated as we did.
(2)M B.
CIAO CHA-BELLA Truly the WORST customer service I have EVER experienced!!! This place was actually recommended by a Concierge & I can't imagine why! We called the "restaurant to find out their hours ( 5:30 - 9:00) & to see if we needed reservations (no). At 8:00, we called to see if they had valet parking (no). The woman asked if we were coming now (yes) and advised us of the plentiful parking next door. We arrived at 8:15. Nobody was at the hostess stand. The bar tender managed to tear himself away from watching Iron Man 2 to tell us someone should be with us soon. We stood there for 5 minutes & he could not be bothered to stop watching TV & go and get other staff . A waitress walked through the back of the restaurant to the kitchen, looked at us, didn't smile and kept walking. Another waitress walked through the front of the restaurant, saw us & said somebody should be with us soon. Eventually, a man (manager? owner?) came to the Host stand & asked if we were there to eat. Since that is the reason we go to restaurants, we said yes. He then told us he would have to ask the kitchen if this was ok, as the restaurant was going through renovations. What?! He made this statement as if it were a perfectly normal thing. The restaurant was not close to being even 1/8 full but decided to check & see if they were able to accept new customers?! And if you're going to renovate a kitchen, then why pretend to be open? And if you're not open, why extend an invitation to "come on down" on the phone? That was a CRAZY series of disconnects. The only thing there that was connected was the bar TV & the bar tender remained glued to it for the duration. This place needs a better business model & some serious customer service training! I am giving this place 1 star because I can't post a review with ZERO STARS
(1)Louisa L.
Went here with some friends while we were visiting from out of town. We really enjoyed our dinner. The field pea hummus was great. The host was welcoming and extremely kid friendly to our 16 month old. The martinis were well made and the olives were great. We all enjoyed our entrees. It is a little pricey, but worth it.
(5)Andie T.
It seems a little funny to be considered a regular at a restaurant that is two hours away from my home, but the fact that my husband and I have dined at Cha-Bella five times since the day after Christmas should speak for itself. We were driving home to Jacksonville from spending the holidays in Virginia and would be in Savannah around dinner time. We try to eat organic, farm-to-table as much as possible. We also do not eat gluten (I'm allergic, my husband is wonderfully supportive). Husband got on Yelp while I was driving and quickly found Cha-Bella when he searched for "organic" in Savannah. A quick call to the restaurant to ensure we would have a table and the coordinates were plugged into the GPS. The restaurant has five dining areas - front dining room, main dining room, upstairs dining room, bar and patio. We have not eaten in the bar or patio yet (but really excited to check out the beautiful patio when the weather is warm!). On every visit the service has been excellent, the food has been delicious and everyone has been more than happy to insure that I do not receive anything with gluten in it. The chef has even been out to speak to me on two different occasions. My husband has had the pork chop on three of our visits. Its HUGE! I've had the surf and turf with the ribeye twice (with a special sauce made just for me since the house sauce contains gluten). These items have always been cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. We've also had the scallops, the grilled romaine salad (different...not sure I'd do it again), mahi catch of the day, shrimp and risotto (its a lemon rosemary risotto - so its actually pretty light). Everything has always been cooked well, served at an appropriate temperature and arrived in proper order. Everyone has always been more than happy to accomodate my dietary restrictions and has checked back to make sure I am happy with my meal. There are many regulars and they are all greeted like family. We have seen several of the same faces there on our visits. On visit #4 one of the other regulars even picked up our tab! A previous reviewer stated everything was salty - I have NEVER had that experience. Another reviewer complained about loud babies and children - not the restaurants fault, but also I've never seen that. If you are concerned about quiet, request the front dining room. For the reviewer who was allergic to goat cheese and complained that it was on her field greens salad - if you have an allergy it is your responsibility to notify the server so they can assist you in your choices (see: gluten allergy, above). The menu is not huge, but its all fresh, delicious and seasonal. You can even see herbs being grown outside the front door! The wine list is also thoughtful and thorough (try the Selbach reisling!). All of the servers we have encountered have been extremely knowledgeable about the menu, the daily specials and the wine list. A couple of other reviewers have mentioned a butter poached lump crab and shrimp risotto - I have never seen that on the menu, but if I ever do, its mine! Perhaps when we go for visit #6 next week I'll be lucky!
(5)Pam G.
On a recent trip to Savannah, Cha Bella was highly recommended by several locals so we knew we had to try it. There were 6 of us and we all really enjoyed our meal. we started with the Charcuterie platter which had some unique and delicious items on it. The best of which was a blueberry stilton cheese. I usually do not like stilton, but the blueberry cut the 'stinkiness' and made it delicious. There were 6 of us for dinner and I think that 4 of us ordered the blackened shrimp with risotto and it was very good. This was everyone's favorite meal in Savannah until we went to the Olde Pink House!
(4)Carol G.
The menu included a wide variety of foods that all sounded delicious and fresh. The cocktails were also very enticing with some very unique options using fresh, in season ingredients. The service was friendly and timely. I would definitely suggest reservations as this is a popular spot with the locals, as well as the tourists.
(4)Greg L.
Cha Bella was recommended to me by a friend so I visited it while in Savannah for St. Patrick's Day. I also looked it up on Yelp to get other individuals' input on this restaraunt before I made advance reservations. The food and service were very good, but considering the prices, it would be expected. We had the scallops as an appetizer and the caprese as our salad selections. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the caprese was excellent. The main meals were served quickly and were also prepared to our specifications. Parking was difficult, probably due to the St. Patrick's Day weekend, as Cha Bella only has street parking and no individual lot. We had to walk three blocks and it would not have been bad had it not been raining that evening. We were seated in the front room next to the door and this area can be somewhat loud, especially when a group of 8-10 people are seated in the same room as happened during our dining experience. My guest and I had to speak somewhat loudly to be heard at times. The wait staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and the recommended malbec wine was perfect for our evening.
(4)Jeannie R.
This place had a really nice atmosphere and good food, but the service was dreadful. I hate to give such a bad review for a restaurant that served good food, but wow is it in need of some serious management intervention. There was a problem with flies outside that could have been easily corrected or at least controlled. When we brought it to the attention of the server, after discovering flys swimming in our wine and cocktails, we were not offered any solution nor any replacements until making a serious complaint. The wait between courses was unnecessarily long and the staff seemed to be completely overwhelmed. Although it is customary for gratuity to be included in large parties, in this instance there were six of us and I resented the imposed 20% gratuity when I felt we had experienced such horrible service. I have no problem with tipping well in excess of 20% for standard and above service, but really don't want to be forced to pay 20% when I feel we have been neglected. I have to wonder if the server was not interested in offering her best service when she didn't have to bother as she was guaranteed the 20%. Like I stated, I hate to leave such a negative review when I actually felt the food was good, but I certainly won't be going back.
(2)Maureen F.
I loved sitting on their shady patio with my dog, Max. Delicious homemade sourdough bread served with a honeyed butter! WOW!! Filet was done to a perfect medium. Served over mashed potatoes, with carrots and spinach, and a decadent mushroom gravy. Excellent service. Crisp Italian Pinot Grigio. Vanilla creme brûlée for dessert rounded out a superb dining experience!!
(5)Steve U.
Disappointment. Perhaps we expected too much. But the high prices, the organic labels, the locally-grown claims, the recommendation from a long-time resident all pointed in the right direction. Falsely... unfortunately. First, and most important, the food was not very good. We had a large party, 13 in fact, and not a single dish was a knockout. And, as a group, we had almost every dish on the menu, except the mahi. The most common complaint was that the dishes were too salty. The risotto and shrimp was so salty that one person could not eat much of it and even the 12 year old, a blossoming foodie, ate his risotto, but also commented that is was too salty. The surf and turf special was bland and uninteresting. The grouper special was ok, but the onions on top didnt seem to go and the dish as a whole was too salty. Another dish that was ordered was a "surf and turf" special, featuring shrimp, scallops and steak. The dish was pronounced bland, except for the vegetables, which were too salty. I started with the soup of the day, a lamb soup. it was not bad, but, of course, was overly salty. For my main course, I went with the spinach and garlic ravioli. I choose this dish as the restaurant emphasizes its fresh and local angle. I had high hopes for the freshly made pasta and the interesting sauce. While the pasta was good, the filling was uninteresting and the sauce did not match the filling well. The dish did, however, buck the salty trend. Overall, the food was a disappointment and wildly over-priced for the quality that came out of the kitchen. The dinner was not worth the price.
(2)Ana P.
Super mega delicious! Their pork belly is outstanding! I had pasta with garlic creamy sauce and seasonal vegetables which was excellent. The service was very good as well. Nice ambiance and decor.
(5)Peggy K.
I dined at cha bella this past Fri. night, May 2. I was with a group of 10 childhood friends celebrating the year of our 60th birthdays. The restaurant came highly recommended and we looked forward to a great meal as we reconnected with our childhood friends. We were sadly very disappointed. 9 out of 10 of us found our meal either inedible or just bland and ordinary. To add insult to injury, the prices were high. I don't mind paying but, I do expect a certain quality and certainly an enjoyable meal for my hard earned money. 3 of us had the grilled pork chop. It was so tough, we could barely chew or cut it. It was drenched with spiced apples that did not go well with the dish. Everything was also cold and even the sides were dripping with the sticky sweet spiced apples. Not a good combo. 2-3 others had the white shrimp which I think was in risotto. They said it was just so-so, pretty bland. Can't wait to return to Savannah but, we WON'T be returning to Cha Bella. Too many great restaurants available to choose from!!!
(1)Jeff Y Laura K.
Exquisite selection and mix of ingredients, amazing service, nice ambience. My raviolis were fantastic with touches of pecans and sweet potatoes. It is one of the best places I have tried in savannah.
(5)Bryan V.
Cha Bella? More like Cha Brutto. I went here with my family and after getting our bread/appetizers, it took 40 minutes for them to bring out a single entree. Yeah, out of 5 entrees they brought 1 out. Since we wait for everyone to have their food before eating, it sat there for 10 minutes before the next entree came out, then a few minutes later they brought the rest out. What kind of restaurant brings out dishes one at a time? Not even McDonald's does that. Not even fucking Golden Corral does that (because it's a buffet). The best part of all was that the first two entrees were chicken, and both were so undercooked that they were RAW not just in the middle but on the sides as well. When we brought this to their attention, they offered to throw it back on the grill or whatever. By the time it came back out, the meal was over and all we had was two shitty leftovers for the next day. I don't think they even offered to take it off the check. All of these factors add up to one of the most disappointing and awkward dining experiences I've ever had in my entire life. (Since you can't give 0 stars, I'll say that the 1 star is for the yogurt-based soup, which was quite delicious)
(1)Chris M.
Made the reservation for our anniversary and the hostess stated that the earliest they could take us (2 people) was 8:30. That was fine as we'd both had a late lunch and eat late as well. When we got there, the restaurant was not even half full. But, whatever. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the service was excellent. The food was pretty good but not spectacular. Everything is stated as being local, which appeals greatly to us, though I'm not sure where you get "fresh" local raspberries in October. Good wine and craft beer list. Prices on everything are reasonable. I feel that based on the calibre of food, Cha Bella can be enjoyed several times a week and not limited strictly to special occasions. This is "New American" cuisine and is not "white table cloth" fine dining. Bon appetite.
(4)Nitin S.
Great concept--local organic produce are the centerpiece of the cooking here, and the produce is fabulous. They did a pretty good job with our dietary restrictions (a vegan and a vegetarian), although I suppose I expected a bit more given the concept here. The heirloom tomato salad was fabulous and all of the cheeses used were great. The fettucine was also quite good--the caramelized onion crema wasn't too heavy, like your typical alfredo sauce. Dining al fresco on a nice night was dreamy. The main issue is that for the price, as others have suggested, you expect a little more "bang" in your meal. But all in all, a good choice in Savannah.
(4)Jasmine G.
I've had several experiences at Cha Bella, all of which were very pleasant. Service is always top notch and I am extremely picky about attentiveness (or lack thereof). I really enjoy that they serve organic and seasonal items on their menu and prepare them well. Their wine list and bar staff are also phenomenal. My best experience by far, was when my wedding reception was held there. All of my guests were really impressed with the food, staff, and atmosphere. They created a custom, themed menu to go along with our carnival/circus style wedding. The flexibility on the chef and the staff's part was really appreciated, especially when we had to reschedule after we had a death in the family the week of our original date. Cha Bella is a local business worth supporting. It's definitely one of the things my husband and I miss about living in Savannah.
(4)Jessica K.
3.5 stars for an enjoyable night out. The interior of Cha Bella makes for a great atmosphere for a multi-course dinner with friends. My party of 5 was seated promptly and in a nice location, not stuffed into the back of the restaurant as so often happens with larger parties. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu, made suggestions, and cracked jokes. He was pleasant and attentive, not at all obtrusive. The service and atmosphere was the highlight of the evening. We all enjoyed the food, but something was missing.. some sort of wow factor. I don't want to sound stingy, but for the price we all expected to be amazed. I wish there had been a few more options in the appetizer/small plate section. I did very much enjoy my dessert though-- a goat cheese infused cheese cake with fresh strawberries and a pecan crust. It was of course a very muggy August night, so we sat inside, but I could see the beautiful patio being a great backdrop for trying Cha Bella again.
(3)Erica S.
Cha Bella is one of those places that is inconsistent. You either love it or hate it. It is never my first choice since there are so many great places to eat in Savannah. Frankly, I think the concept is good, but the execution is average and with the prices are cra-zee high.. I do not recommend it. I have eaten there more than half a dozen times with friends who insist it is great and we have to go there. Since I want so much to like the place, i give in. One meal out of the +6 I have had was very good. It was a soft shell crab on a a bed of greens and lovely dressing. Extra tasty and excellent presentation. BUT I have had ridiculous meals there too. Risotto that was bland and plain ol' shrimp placed on top of the risotto to make you think it was "Shrimp Risotto." Cold food placed on hot plates. Entrees coming out at different times. Poor selections or the kitchen has run out of so many items the selection is poor. I think the buzz is the marketing and Organic theme. The food is not great and service avergae at best. The mixed drinks are the weakest in town. Do not bother.
(2)Moira S.
Love this place, NEVER have had a bad experience. Food is always fresh and different. Service is outstanding. Vic, the indian tsunami, is a true gentleman.
(5)Nemo L.
The thin crust flatbread was alright, but the drinks were the weakest I've ever had in my life, which frankly, is an unforgivable sin in the South.
(3)Ann M.
I had the chance to dine at Cha Bella's recently and I enjoyed my experience very much. I was with a group, 18 of us, and our service was prompt and excellent. I had the Grilled, Organic Local Harvest Eggplant & Oven-Warmed Plum Tomatoes with Farm Fresh Sweet Basil. This was delightful. I loved the flavors of the eggplant and plum tomatoes. They were roasted perfectly. My only request was that my Goat Cheese Nugget was a bit over cooked. It had a good crisp texture but it was a bit too dry. I ahs the filet for my entree and per the menu it is served with a mushroom demi-glace. I am allergic to mushrooms and the server informed me it would be no trouble to change it to a pan reduction sauce. I am happy to say they did a fine job and there was no mushroom or hint of mushroom otherwise this review might have been done from an ER room. Our group was seated in the balcony of the restaurant. My only complaint was that it was a bit too dim. Mood lighting goes only so far. Just turn it up a tiny notch and it would have been perfect. Over all I enjoyed my dinner very much and in fact have recommended others to dine there as well. When in Savannah after all the southern food you can handle Cha Bella's is a refreshing, organic lighter fare. Big yums from me! I'll go back for sure.
(3)Cynthia B.
Today is my last day living in Savannah, so I had to stop by Yelp and give five stars to my favorite restaurant in the city. During our time here, we tried all the restaurants the locals consider "best," and this was definitely ours. Chef Matthew Roher is a fan of local veggies, meats and seafoods and has a particular magic with vegetables -- we subscribed to Cha Bella's farm box, too, which I also recommend. The food tastes decadent and wholesome all at once. The service is impeccable, the atmosphere upscale but comfortable. Try to get a seat near the fireplace in the wintertime or on the patio during the spring.
(5)Clay J.
My wife and I went here looking for a light, healthy supper and we were not disappointed. I had the steak medium rare and actually received it medium rare. My wife had grouper and loved it. The only knock on this place was the lack of menu options, but that is probably because they do everything local and organically.
(4)Matthew H.
Very inconsistent meal. Started off with one diner requesting more information about a cocktail special. Her one request was that it wasn't sweet. After she was assured that it wasn't, she ordered it. It took a full half hour to receive it and multiple times asking the waitress ( who's excuse was 'he's backed up') to finally receive an undrinkably sweet martini. Aargh. Wine was good. Salads were excellant, mine had local cheese on top- great. They brought bread to the table, which had the texture of wonder bread. That came with olive oil for dipping, which was terribly low quality. Either they thinned it with vegetable oil or they buy it in 55 gallon drums. Either way, very oily. The entrees come and they are a mixed bag as well. My partner had the homemade ravioli special- killer. Really great. I had the georgia shrimp risotto off the main menu. The risotto had been cooked in December and reheated, a pasty rubbery mess. The shrimp were the only edible portion of the entree. Luckily the deserts were better, with the goat cheese cheesecake being the standout. My takeaway was I will go here if others request it but won't suggest it to others, too much money for inconsistent food.
(3)Karen A.
We ate at Cha Bella on July 3, 2010 after reading incredible reviews. Our reservation was for 8pm on a Saturday evening on a busy holiday weekend. The sullen hostess seated us in a HUGE room with one other party - which left within twenty minutes. That left the 2 of us in a room that seats at least 50 people. It was very uncomfortable. Why didn't they seat us with other people on patio or the smaller front room? The food was good, not great. The drinks tasted like they scrimped on the booze. Had to ask for milk for my coffee 4 times. And the ladies room look like a homeless person had been living there. Very unprofessional staff and management.
(1)Vivian L.
-1 star for not remaking my salad seriously due to a food allergy -1 star for serving an overcooked entree -1 star for serving a cold dessert on a warm plate +1 star for comping the meal I was so, so , so excited when I found this restaurant in Savannah.
(3)Tommy L.
Farm to table. Organic. Local. Those are just some of the descriptors for Cha Bella. Housed in a bit of an offbeat part of downtown, Cha Bella's focus on providing local, organic fare is apparent in all menu selections. Veggies all come from Hampton Island farm, 45 minutes south of Savannah. If I recall, Cha is also in the process of building their own garden in town to provide veggies and greens. Their outdoor patio is not to be missed except maybe in July/Aug/Sept when you don't want to be outside anywhere in Savannah. The menu is supurb and rotates seanally. Wait staff is required to spend time at the farm learning about the food. My vists haven't been subjected to the issues the other 2 posters had. Every time the servers have been prompt, knowledgable and the food always spectacular. Of all the restaurants in Savannah, I'm having my rehearsal dinner there, so that's my confidence in the establishment. If you are looking for great, seasonal local and organic fare in Savannah, Cha Bella is the pioneer and shouldn't be missed....
(5)Byron K.
The shrimp and risotto was a little bland, the shrimpover cooked and the risotto not as textured as I prefer, a little too soupy for my taste. My wife had a salad as an entree and it was too small. Waiter should have recommended something else or reminded the salads are small. The Pineapple margarita was not good. The waiter took away our soup too fast and brought the wrong beer. Left everything on the tab. Would have been nice if he had hustled out a new drink or taken it off the bill. We had had Alligator Soul the night before so maybe that wasn't fair to Cha Bella and it was just an off night.
(2)Patricia M.
On vacation from the Bay Area, my husband & I ate here last night and absolutely loved everything about this fabulous restaurant. I had 4 courses, starting with lovely carrot soup, followed by their specialty warm eggplant & plum tomato salad. Oh & I should mention the great cucumber & watermelon cocktail-- recommended by Erica, who was delightfully attentive & sweet all evening. I ordered the small plate scallops with leeks as my main & the pot de creme (espresso flavored) dessert. I tasted my husband's short ribs which we both thought were excellent. Also he pronounced his house salad (with mint dressing) an all time favorite. So go there & enjoy!
(5)Scott L.
Changes ownership and hours too often. The flat bread pizzas leave a little to be desired. Sit on the large patio and order drinks for the best experience. Skip the fare. Friendly service.
(3)Jeni F.
I was excited to try this place to see what they are able to do with local organic and free-range fare, especially because one of our dining companions is a vegetarian. I had the tomato basil soup and the eggplant and goat cheese salad. The soup really didn't have much flavor to it, but the salad was delicious. My husband had the mushroom risotto and was pretty disappointed. I tried it too and felt it wasn't seasoned correctly - just bland (I've been experiencing bland at restaurants a lot lately!). We did enjoy the brandy creme brulee and our server was absolutely hilarious. For the price, I don't feel like our meal at Cha-Bella was a memorable experience.
(3)Bob B.
My wife and I had one of the best dining experiences ever at Cha Bella. The restaurant is nicely modern yet has a romantic touch without feeling fancy (ask for upstairs), the service was outstanding and the flavors were fabulous. Our server was very knowledgeable, attentive and made us feel excited about our food options. We tried the pork belly appetizer and it was melt in your mouth good. Entrees of short ribs and grouper were both full of flavor. We spent three days exploring Savannah's best restaurants and were surprised to find Cha Bella was our favorite meal.
(5)Iris F.
While visiting Savannah for the first time I made sure I dined at a nice and pleasant restaurant so I came across Cha-Bella, it's organic and has a new menu that appealed to me. I changed my mind to what I was in a mood for and realized the selection was rather limited. Be aware that if you do order the wrong item, you'll be charged; ordered the wrong salad was charged. That was my first and it was my fault, I guess. I was also charged for splitting my meal with my daughter, she's little and couldn't eat an entire meal. Ah well. This location is hard to spot but you can't miss it. Afterwards go a walk by the river. I would go again and this time i'll know what to expect from a small restaurant.
(3)Sasha Z.
This is another place I want to love but all three times I have eaten there I come away lukewarm. The first time was a while ago and I can't remember what I ate, so I'll just review the last two times which were for lunch... Went about a month ago sort of as a last resort for Sat. lunch...My friend and I were at first excited by the selection on the menu of organic/free-range choices, but when my friend told our server that she has a black pepper allergy, those choices got narrowed down considerably...especially as it seemed that the chef couldn't or WOULDN'T modify the dishes. She ordered the grilled chicken sandwich after our server assured her there was NO black pepper...we waited for our entrées...the waitress comes out with MY entrée only and says to my very hungry friend "Oh, the Chef forgot that she marinated her chicken in a sauce w/ black pepper until AFTER she made the sandwich!" So finally it was decided that my friend could safely have the grilled grouper sandwich. It was awesome but she got the marinated veggies as the side and they were SOAKED in vinegar...inedible! I got the prosciutto/mozzerella sandwich which was great. I have to say though, that the server's ( and possibly the chef's attitude about the food allergy left a lot to be desired. Yet we decided to brave it for lunch today... My friend had the prosciutto sandwich and I had the grouper sand... both were very good & cooked to order (no pepper and no onions for me) and today's server was very nice about honoring our dietary needs...however their computers were down and this caused chaos when it was time to get the check...we waited longer than to get the food and the explanation was that it was so confusing for them to write the bill/total it BY HAND!! I don't even know what to say to that, but once again I came away from there feeling blah and vaguely annoyed....Why should lunch be so frought???
(3)