By Vanessa Lantos Daly (Spicy Melon)
March 24, 2025 – Have you ever wondered what to do downtown other than shop, drink, eat, and take a drunken walking ghost tour? That last option might be tricky if you’ve got kids in tow.
Downtown Savannah is great for drinking and strolling, but when it comes to family-friendly activities, the only thing that comes to mind is the chaotic brunch rush at The Funky Brunch Café. And let’s be real—that’s just eating with extra steps.
Bowl and Brew recently opened at Located at 129 East Broughton Street in the basement of the historic Woolworths building,
Located at 129 East Broughton Street in the basement of the historic Woolworths building, Bowl and Brew opened March 7th, the same day as Rome’s Bar—maybe a little less splashy, but just as much excitement. This new spot adds another option for families taking a stroll down Broughton Street in search of wholesome fun. A year in the making, the project is part of the family of concepts by Harley Krinsky and Chris Godfrey, who also own Congress Street Social Club and Sorry Charlie’s Oyster Bar.
By the way, I have no idea how Sorry Charlie’s gets away with those oyster happy hours during the week, or how Social Club manages their ridiculously good drink specials—like $5 Whiskey Wednesdays. If you’re wandering downtown and don’t want to spend every last dollar you’ve ever made, these spots are well-known gems that have been offering deals like these for years.
Past coverage: Property Matters – Bowling in the basement on Broughton, B&B Paint Co. building demo & new restaurant on Oglethorpe – Savannah Agenda
Back in the day, after bartending at The Olde Pink House, hypnotically strolling over there became almost a ritual. Who could resist those prices with such quality offerings? If whiskey doesn’t float your boat, there’s also Tijuana Tuesdays, featuring $3 beer specials and $5 tequila—practically unheard of.
Ever since the economy started dancing the cha-cha while balancing broken glass over its head, I’ve been hunting for bar and restaurant specials like I’m searching for 14k gold at a seedy pawn shop. As a bartender working in a restaurant in Savannah, I can tell you—offering quality drinks and food at a bargain price is getting harder and harder, especially downtown. So I’m always impressed (and grateful) when places manage to pull it off. And these guys? They’re over the top. I don’t know how they do it—black magic? Buying liquor in bulk quantities the size of cargo ship containers? Perhaps.
Speaking of quality offerings, let’s talk about Bowl and Brew’s menu for a minute. This is a place for games, so the vibe is casual with elevated bites: The most expensive items go as high as $18, including a duck quesadilla and a Wagyu smash burger. The quesadilla comes stuffed with manchego, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, and salsa—great ingredients for good-looking, unpretentious food.
I couldn’t resist and got myself a hot fudge brownie sundae. All those things just go so well together. Want to take it up a notch? Order a shot of Irish cream and pour it over. Too much? Impossible.
I was happily surprised to see Kelvin Woods behind the bar—a familiar face I’ve known since 2015. He’s been with the company at Social Club for nearly a decade. It’s always great to see places keep their happy, loyal employees within the family. Kelvin cheerfully shared that they had a full house for both their soft opening and their official launch day.
This is not your typical bowling alley. Bowl and Brew features automatic duckpin bowling, a smaller, faster-paced version of classic bowling.
Their bar manager, Salvatore Ferrara—who goes by Sal—took a few moments to chat with me while enjoying some food at the bar. He was previously a manager at Social Club as well.
Sal shared, “The owners want to make simple things with very good products. We don’t have an extensive selection, but for example, our well spirits are quality—our well tequila is Altos. That’s the lowest-grade option we carry, and it’s already a mid-shelf spirit.”
That’s great news for anyone who’s ever ordered a vodka soda with lime and ended up with a drink that tastes like turpentine. It’s good to trust a place that prioritizes quality. I mean, I could drink bottom-shelf liquor when I was 21, but these days, my whole body goes on strike at the mere smell of anything subpar.
Sal also shared the family-oriented inspiration behind Bowl and Brew. “Harley and Chris both have families, and when you come downtown, it’s a lot of walking and drinking all day—but not a lot of activities. There’s not much for families to do besides eating, drinking, and going on tours. They wanted to create a space where people could get together and bond.”
The space itself? It’s got this perfect mix of chill and underground bar magic. The lights are dark with bursts of bright and neon in the corners, deep blues complementing polished wood details. You feel the luxury of brand-new finishes, but there’s always the background hum of pins dropping and laid-back tunes filling the air. It’s the kind of place where you can kick back and relax but still feel like you’re in a spot that’s got something special going on.
He added that they encourage guests to settle in for a couple of hours, enjoying drinks and bowling. Renting a lane is easy—you can rent one for $40 an hour through any manager on the floor or your bartender.
Sal also talked about the food: “We have these Wagyu beef sliders, which are phenomenal. Our chefs are the same ones from Sorry Charlie’s. They’re focusing on simple dishes made with really good ingredients.”
Kelvin and Sal exchanged a knowing smile before Sal added, unprompted, “There’s no better company to work for in Savannah than these guys. They always make sure you’re taken care of. Harley is very family-oriented and looks out for his people in every business endeavor he’s involved in.”
Kelvin shared that he also worked in their oyster farm, Savannah Oyster Co. He smiled as Sal chimed in, revealing that Kelvin had actually trained him at Social Club as a bartender. “It was on Bourbon Monday—I made the worst Old Fashioned ever. And then I gave someone a margarita with no ice in it.”
Bartending is always hard and terrifying at first. I should know, I have my own funny horror stories. But it’s so great to see what a close-knit team they are, vouching for each other and staying with the company for years.
I highly recommend a visit—by yourself or with the whole family.
Love always,
Vanessa
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More columns by Vanessa Lantos Daly (Spicy Melon)
