The Canopy

Stopped in on a whim for dinner while driving back from Statesboro. This quaint converted turn of the century home makes a cool restaurant. Unassuming in appearance and not flashy but the food was incredible and the service was on point and friendly. Will certainly return to The Canopy Restaurant and highly recommend. 👌

First time visiting this place and now it's time for my first impressions honest review. I'm a big foodie and I love to try new places to eat, whether local or out of town, and share my thoughts on the places I visit so you can decide if it's something you would like to try out. This review is unsolicited and uncompensated, so you are getting an unbiased and totally honest review for your reading pleasure. My wife and I were told from family to go check out this new restaurant in Darien, right inside the city limits. So we decided to go and check it out on a Friday night. In reviewing their website, they indicated to call and make reservations. It was a spur of the moment that evening to go, so I called and braced for the worst, but the hostess said come on down, no need for reservations tonight. (Which I thought was quite strange, for a Friday night of course.). In our county, we have literally over 100 good restaurants to go eat at and all the good ones will accept reservations or you should be prepared to wait for a table, ESPECIALLY on a Friday night, so to find out none was needed was welcomed, but unusual. Just a short trip north of Brunswick, across the bridge and turn right, it was only a few blocks around the bend. When we got there, the parking lot was empty, literally only 3 cars there, and we had correctly assumed, those all belonged to the help. We parked and went inside, two ladies greeted us, allowed us to pick where we wanted to seat, and gave us menus. We were literally the only patrons there at 8pm on a Friday night. This was nice that we were their sole customers and center of attention but it felt almost eerie and weird that no one else was eating here this evening. (Side note, we had noticed another local grill restaurant was open up the road and their parking lot was very packed and busy) We weren't drinking alcohol but they had a full bar and separate drink menu. The food menu was somewhat sparse and there were not a lot of options to choose from we noticed. We ordered an appetizer and an entree for the two of us, as we like to agree and split between those to make small plates for both of us. The chips and dip wasn't really a dip, more like homemade chips with braised pork on top with goat cheese and a sweet sauce drizzled, it was delicious. The flank steak entry with the puffed farro and asparagus was a very good cut of steak, definitely recommend both of these dishes and I've included pictures of the food and menus in my review. As you can see from the menus, it's not inexpensive to eat there but not overpriced either, just above average for places in the area. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our solo dinner experience, the service was top notch of course, and the place is quaint and beautiful and a very good experience. We finished dinner about 920pm and they closed up the place as soon as we left. I'm not sure how they can stay open for business if they don't have crowds for the two busiest dinner nights of Friday and Saturday nights, when most people go out to eat, especially with the bar in place there. My friends say they are busy and open for breakfast and lunch, so maybe that's their main goals and where the business comes from. We will go back during those meals and update my review after we do.

The only thing missing from this restaurant was more people! We booked this restaurant last minute for my birthday and we arrived early approximately 6 o’clock on a Saturday. We expected there to be a lot of people however, there was only one other couple in the entire restaurant. When we had booked, my wife had said it was my birthday, and our table was set with a card signed by the entire staff of the restaurant. This is such a quality touch, and with some thing that left a memorable impression up on both of us. There are no hard liquor, mixed drinks here! No, Bourbons, no whiskeys! This made me very sad, but they have a pretty decent draft list and bottle list as well as wines and wine mixes. I really wish they had had a full service bar. This place could really be over the top good. The appetizer was the ceviche scallops, and they were out of this world. My wife believes that the chips were too heavy, handed on the salt while I definitely did taste a lot of salt. They were perfect for me. The ceviche was outstanding. Both of us cleared the bowl. I got the skirt steak and it was seasoned with a wonderful vinegary twang that went so well with the sweet, pumpkin purée. Absolutely five stars cooked medium rare just the way I like it. My wife got the 8 ounce filet mignon and while the steak was outstanding, and she devoured the whole thing, I actually thought the brussels sprouts were the best item on the plate. Lol so delicious. My only real complaint with the night was that I ordered a latte at the end of dinner, and it was extremely weak. It honestly tasted like there was no espresso in the drink at all. I hope this was just a one off mistake. It certainly does not lower my score below five stars But I definitely think it was off. For dessert we received the carrot cake to go with a scoop of ice cream, and my wife and I eat it watching the sunset in south Georgia. I don’t think there’s a nicer way to in the evening. Parking is a little limited here, especially on a busy night. He could get crazy to find a spot, but the entire staff was outstanding, and the venue itself was beautiful very well decorated great color scheme.

My grandparents took us here for lunch while visiting Darien. The atmosphere is so homey and comfortable. The menu offered flavors we’ve never had before and absolutely LOVED. Megan was a joy to meet as well. I got the Salmon bowl, being pregnant I had to have them cook the salmon extra for me. The food, experience, and staff were exceptional

A delightful Sunday brunch in a beautiful old house was a treat today. We had the Canopy breakfast, chicken and waffle, chicken salad and, the special, a stone fruit salad with goat cheese. All of it was outstanding! Can't wait to return to this charming restaurant and are happy that its home is in Darien!

Quite literally the best place in all of Darien! My best friend & I decided to drive to Darien for a girl's day of Antique thrift shopping and lunch by the water and boy are we happy I found this place! The food was unbelievably fresh and so tasty, not to mention how CUTE this restaurant is! This was the best part of our trip, and I am so excited to go back! I got the Chicken Caprese Sandwhich and it DID NOT disappoint, I highly recommend. They have indoor and outdoor seating along with 3 different menus and a brunch menu! I really can't wait to make more trips to try it all!

Such a wonderful dinner, food was top notch and the people were amazing. They even wrote me a card for my birthday. The little things mean a lot. I have a feeling this is one of those best kept secrets. We will be back!

Just had a breakfast bowl. Excellent food. Friendly service. Loved sitting in the old dining room of the historic house. Not ostentatious. Recommend to anyone interested.

Really nice restaurant in Darien good food used to be an old residence I arrived at happy hour had a glass of wine an appetizer and a small dinner. With a dessert one great plate leading to the next I've been here about three times now it never disappoints

An exceptional dining experience in Darien! We brought our little one and had a great evening - the old house is charming, the staff absolutely wonderful, and the food was terrific. Not sure where the complaints about portion sizes come from - I’m not a small dude and I had to take my dessert to go. We did get the appetizer - currently a chips and dip which was loaded with pulled pork, goat cheese, and other goodies, and that nearly filled us up (it did for the couple next to us who actually took their entrees to go). The food is artisan and they clearly pride themselves in creating a culinary experience as opposed to just putting good food in front of you. They have a seasonal (~4 months) menu (currently about to change). We will be coming back. Update: finally made it back for breakfast this time and wasn’t disappointed. They’ve revamped how they do breakfast and it’s awesome. Some may pick at “why does everything I add cost” but the base is so low, you end up ahead in the end by only paying for the ingredients you want. I got a sirloin breakfast bowl with lots of veggies and a coffee and toast for <$15. Add in the still phenomenal customer service and owners, that’s a great deal IMO.

New addition to Darien, upper end of the price scale. Beautiful old house. The food is quite good, Tuna appetizer and summer salad were outstanding. The menu is somewhat limited, heavy on steak. A local fish special would be nice. Beer and Wine only, decent selection. Worth the trip from Saint Simons if you want to escape the crowds and visit Darien.

Beautiful place. Stopped by for breakfast while traveling through the area. Good food.

Had an early Mother’s Day dinner this evening. We had a fantastic server named Ashley and the plates we ordered were fantastic! Looking forward to seeing them again.

This is a great spot! The chips & dip, chicken, and chocolate cake were delicious. A fun little spot in a quiet town!

Wonderful The house has old southern charm The food was delicious What a great little find on our way through I’d eat here again and again

Reserved our table the night before to have breakfast today. Walked in an was seated immediately. Wonder wait staff and the food is amazing! I had the breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, added cheese and onions and upgraded my meat to the sirloin tips. Did I say amazing? IT WAS DELICIOUS! The price was just shy of $17 and well worth the upgrade. The home setting is beautifully decorated. If you are in town, please enjoy their hospitality.

This place is a gem! Delicious food, friendly people and great music, too! Love the vibe, the decor, the unique menu, just everything!

The atmosphere is so welcoming and relaxing. Food was excellent and service, too! Will definitely be going back!

Fabulous, Charming, Old South, Friendly.8 Our server, Autumn, is so fabulous. The chef, Megan who runs this quaint, lovely restaurant is personable and prepares the most delicious food. Everything on her menu is deliciously prepared. The weekday menu is delicious and so reasonably priced! Recommend reservations for their scrumptious Sunday brunch. Our server, Autumn, is attentive and friendly. The Farmer Skillet is a must have. Highly recommend the bottomless Mimosas or Poinsettias. 5 Stars ⭐️ All the way for this fabulous Little restaurant in Darien, GA

We spend six winter weeks a year near Darien. The Canopy Restaurant is by far our favorite. The food is the best in town with an imaginative menu, a good bar and an inexpensive but lovely wine list. The service has been top notch with a staff that knows what it takes to make diners comfortable. And, in addition, the building is beautiful and we can try different rooms including the porch, where we have sometimes sat with our dog. If I was looking for a good meal while driving on I-95, I would stop at The Canopy rather than the fried food at Skippers or any of the other places near Darien or Brunswick.

We had an amazing experience at The Canopy. I had booked ahead of time and told them it was our anniversary. They put us in a very romantic, quaint, room of our own. They even placed a Happy Anniversary card, signed by the staff, at our table! We were greeted with a smile by the hostess, Kristen, who was also our waitress. She was sweet and pleasant. The food was beyond delicious. We had the Artisan bread board to pair with our wine. The homemade biscuits were the best I have ever had! Then we had a small plate of Chile Rellano that had so many wonderful flavors. The main dishes we had were the half chicken and the mahi. So delicious! This was a perfect place for a romantic anniversary dinner.

I moved to Brunswick a year ago from Charleston. It’s been a struggle to find great restaurants after having an abundant amount of options in Charleston. I will say The Canopy has been one of my favorite finds in all of the area including Saint Simons, Jekyll, Brunswick and Darien. This is a hidden gem that shouldn’t stay a secret. The food was a well made portion, made with amazing flavors. It was very light and exactly what I look for. I got the shrimp and risotto which was so delightful. We will be back possibly as early as tomorrow to try their Sunday brunch!!

Delicious lunch today. Sat on the front porch and everything, the decor, food, service and value was excellent. We had the grilled turkey cheese sandwich and the salmon salad. We looked at the dinner menu, which looked great also. We’ll definitely be back for that.

I finally made it to dinner at Canopy & they did not disappoint! I had the pasta (which I made two meals of) & Robbie had the flank steak which was cooked perfectly. I'm grateful to Chef Megan & her staff for giving Darien this opportunity for fresh gourmet meals. I can taste the love in her food. No gimmicks here. Just straight up deliciousness. Her house-made biscuits at breakfast are incredible. Everything I've tasted has been spot on for me. Great wine menu too! I plan to go weekly.

The food is outstanding and unique. This place feels cozy and warm. The service we got from Randall was amazing! Ashley is a friendly and personable staff member as well!

Great menu. The burger was Excellant. Kitchen cut fries were very good. The desserts were first rate great coffee. The salmon bowl was good and very tasty. Portion size was satisfying. WILL RETURN!

Absolutely perfect place to dine! We went to St. Simons and then drove through Darien to find a restaurant. The food was amazing and the service was great! If it was not raining outside or the porches would have been wonderful. Each room in the house has a different feel and it was so fun for our 3 girls to see. Best fries and fruit bowl too! Definitely a place to stop by and visit! The Stanton 5

The food was great. Everything about The Canopy was great EXCEPT: When a customer asks for the Wifi password, don't tell the customer that it is not working. If the policy of the restaurant is to NOT give out the password, that is understandable and I can accept that if told to me. But to lie about it is an insult to the customer. It left me with a not too great impression.

I never leave restaurant reviews, but this place is too good, Kristen was an absolute pleasure as a waitress and bartender. The food was a 12/10. The vibes are peak. Woman owned is the way to go, it looks like. Will be coming back plenty more as a local!

Friendly attentive staff. Basket of Biscuits is a great starter. Many delicious menu items. A very cozy spot to have lunch.

Great lunch in a quaint old home. Unique treament of Catfish Hoagie with southern ved and pickled okra hit the spot for me. Wife's burger with ramps was juicy and full of flavor. Their house made chips could not possibly been sliced any thinner... they were all crispy and sooo delicate. Seasonal menu full of locally harvested sides and toppings will bring me back.

Beautiful older home converted to a café. Got there late lunch on a rainy afternoon. 45 ish minutes before closing. We're only serving lunch. Upscale food but decent prices. I had pulled pork, collard greens, red peas, potatoes and red peppers. With blue corn hushpuppies. Outstanding. Wife got salmon with rice and veggies. Very tasty. Server was friendly.

This is a new restaurant to our town. A welcomed addition. They are working the bugs out I would say. The plates appear to be empty as the meal is placed on 1/3 of the plate and no garnishment on the remainder of the plate. The portions are adequate. Do not come overly hungry. The service is very good. The decorations are blah but the old house is beautiful. The chef comes out to welcome the quest, a nice touch. I would recommend this place.

I bummed I missed the bar upstairs but I really did enjoy the space, food and service!

Nice quaint place. Unique themed dishes. A must try while in the area.

Beautiful atmosphere! Grilled pimento cheese sandwich was really great! Bread was amazing and loved the perfectly cooked country ham inside. Was little disappointed that onion rings tasted like frozen ones. Wish they had been fresh and hand-battered. Was also out of the squash bisque which was what i intended to order on a chilly fall day. The sweet tea was perfectly sweetened. Will make the drive from St Simons to try it again.

Disappointing. Cute place; good service; substandard food. We ordered the chicken & waffles and the farmer's bowl. The food was cold, especially the potatoes. The chicken on the chicken and waffles tasted off, like it was fried in old, overused oil. The farmer's bowl was not made correctly. It had chorizo in it--the menu said it would have ham, so we ended up swapping plates. They also wouldn't add an egg to my chicken & waffles. We won't be back.

I’ve eaten at The Canopy twice. On the first time there, the food was good - Not exceptional, but good. On the second trip, we brought 5 friends. The menu was different than the first time. Out of 7 people, I don’t think anyone was satisfied with their meal. Swordfish was tough and not served warm. Pairing with melon balls was odd. Risotto was okay. It did not come with a protein, which would have been a good addition. Mushrooms on top of risotto did not compliment the dish. The server was lovely, friendly, and could not answer a single question about the wine list. She needs more training. The Canopy is a lovely restaurant, and a great addition to the Darien food scene. I’m hopeful that what I described above were just growing pains and that improvement is on the way. I may give it one more try.

Disclaimer, I am not a frequent commenter or reviewer, I am not the Karen-type, I hate that I feel compelled to leave a review. The kicker for me to do this is because it was supposed to be a special evening with my wife, I wanted to give her a great meal and treat her tonight and I thought a 4.6 rated restaurant could offer this. We went to the Canopy for a Valentine's Day Dinner, had reservations for 8pm. The setting is beautiful - that is the best remark I can give. They seat us, give us the menu and tell us that 1 of the 3 starter options is out, so we had to choose between beet salad and oysters, we order one of each although we both had wanted the third option, scallops. When the starters come out they are piddly, 2 oysters on my plate and a slop of mozzarella cheese with something like beet syrup drizzled on an excessive amount of mushy cheese - what a start! They pour us two cups of like warm water without ice. They don't end up bringing us out the wine pairing with the meal so we just tell them nevermind on that. Next, we ordered the filet mignon and the lobster tail options. We stressed well done on the steak. We noticed the couple behind us left abruptly and the waitress tries bringing them a redo of their meal, but they had left by that time that she returned, a minute later she comes to us saying ours came out pretty fast. We believe she just gave us the other customers food. The steak was at best medium rare and the lobster tail was like warm and tasteless. The steak had puree mashed potatoes under it that was gross and the lobster tail had pathetically small carrots and and cool melted butter under it. We were so turned off that we decided to leave as well. I attempted to offer a partial payment to the restaurant and spoke to an employee who told me to wait, I waited for 5 minutes, another unhappy couple came up behind me saying they were disgusted as well. I ended up leaving because they couldn't even consult me properly when I was trying to pay them something so I left to try and salvage our Valentine's Day dinner. Had high hopes that the cute restaurant would give us a lovely experience... We got an experience, I just wouldn't call it lovely!

Their food does not look like the pictures on Google. We waited over an hour to get our food and they were not even busy. Then when the food arrived it was cold. I got the meat lover skillet. It came in a bowl then they forgot the meat. There were so many jalapenos and crumbs as the meat. When I told the waitress that they completely forgot the chicken. She brought out a bowl of crumbs of chicken. Very disappointed in the food and service