Savannah is known for its beautiful parks, cobblestone streets, drooping live oaks, stunning historical architecture, and bustling river walk. However, the best thing about Savannah is the FOOD!
Savannah is a culinary lover’s dream from an array of world cuisine to its signature eccentric Southern low country dining.
Here is a list of my personal favorite Savannah restaurants that you must add to your bucket list to eat at!
Are you hungry? This list of Savannah Restaurants are all drool worthy. Work up an appetite with an outdoor stroll in the beautiful streets of Savannah, because you will want to hit everyone of these tasty spots!
Here is my list of my favorite top Savannah restaurants, in no particular order!
The Collins Quarter
When you eat at The Collins Quarter, you eat with your eyes. Everything is beautiful from the chic and stylish decor complimented with fresh flowers on the tables, to the artsy plated food presented on your plate.
The biggest downfall of The Collins Quarter is deciding what to order. Their menu choices are so enticing your head hurts trying to narrow down the selection! I suggest trying EVERYTHING!
I also highly recommend a reservation. There is always a line out the door and a long wait. However, if you do not make reservations, let me assure you it is worth the wait!
If you are coming for brunch, you can never go wrong with the French Toast, Upstream Supreme, or the Eggs Benedict. Make sure you try one of their fancy signature Espressos!!! This is definitely an opportunity to indulge.
For dinner, you can never go wrong with the scallops, salad, or the fish specials. The Hot Chicken was pretty fantastic if it still is on the menu….
And don’t skip dessert!!! Dessert at Collin’s Quarter is always special, so if it is questionable if you will have room for dessert, just order it first… because why not?
Le Cafe Gourmet
Le Cafe Gourmet is a best restaurant in Savannah for their amazing crepes, breads, and pastries! Everything is made from scratch in-house. They have a nice selection of coffees and teas as well.
You can choose from “authentic French” crepes or with Buckwheat flour : “ORGANIC, GLUTEN, DAIRY and SUGAR FREE.” Neither is a bad choice.
The Gourmet Blue, La Complete, and Salmon Crepes are heavenly. The beautiful Charcuterie board is perfect for sharing.
All of the sandwiches are made in their house-made French bread. They are ALL fantastic! The Caprese sandwich is my favorite.
Leopold’s Ice Cream Parlour
Leopold’s Ice Cream Parlour is a best Savannah restaurant for their incredible gourmet ice cream!
There is ALWAYS a line out the door and down the street whether it is 100 degrees outside or 30 degrees…. people just can’t get enough of this place. Why? Because it is devilishly good.
All ice cream is homemade with flavors such as Lemon Custard, Banana, Pistachio, Rum Bisque (a personal favorite), and the Savannah Socialite made with Milk and dark chocolate ice creams bursting with roasted Georgia pecans and swirled with bourbon-infused caramel. How wicked good does that sound?
Leopold’s is also a popular stop among the celebrities. You never know who you might run into such as Jennifer Lopez, Tom Cruise, or Anthony Hopkins.
Their Soda Fountain Menu features traditional favorites such as banana splits, sundaes, homemade ice-cream sandwiches, and Old-Fashioned Hand Crafted Fountain Sodas (I do love a good Cherry Smash!)
Leopold’s sandwiches and salads are made fresh. Try the Shrimp Salad, Pimento Cheese Sandwich, or the Cream Cheese and Olives Sandwich… you can’t go wrong.
Cotton & Rye
One of the best Savannah Restaurants is a little jewel called Cotton & Rye. Once home to a bank, its building maintains some of its original industrial look and adds in a stylish, modern, open airy feel.
Almost everything is made from scratch with high quality ingredients such as their breads, dressings, sausages, pickles, and bacon.
The menu is Southern inspired and changes periodically. On it you will find things like shrimp and grits, Carolina trout, award winning crispy chicken wings (a definite must) and juicy cheeseburgers.
If you like whiskey, then you are in for a special treat. They have a great selection of whiskeys and an incredible craft cocktail menu. Save room for dessert because their house-made desserts are fantastic also!
Alligator Soul
Hidden on a side street of the historic district of Savannah, in what was once a basement for a grain warehouse, is a brilliant little restaurant called Alligator Soul. You would almost miss it, if it wasn’t for their sign dangling above their street level stairs indicating there is a restaurant below.
Inside, you will find stunning brick archways, a beautiful wooden bar, and tables covered in white linen. It is the perfect setting for a perfect meal.
Dinner is as special as the setting. Their seasonal menus feature handmade dishes prepared with local and regional ingredients with an emphasis of humanely treated animals. In addition, they offer a variety of exotic meats such as elk, antelope, kangaroo, and of-course, alligator.
Alligator Soul house-smokes their own meats. Anything with their house-smoked tasso ham is AMAZING! In particular, the Drunken Mussels (seasoned with tasso ham) are the BEST mussels I have ever had.
Alligator Soul is all about experience. Each dish is thought-out from how it will be presented, to how each layer of ingredient will marry together to create a full wonderment of flavor.
They also take pride in their house made desserts. We enjoyed the tempura battered banana beignets with candied pecans and caramel buttered ice cream.
Menu changes seasonal. However, any of their house-made meats, oysters, mussels, steak, or boat fish make excellent choices.
Sly’s Sliders and Fries
They are little in size, but big in taste! Sly’s Sliders is the best Savannah Restaurant for fresh hand cut fries, mini hotdogs, and mini sliders.
Their fries are incredible by themselves. Or you can order them topped with cheese, bacon, chili, beans, jerk chicken, fried egg, and/or jalapeños!
The garlic, cheese, and ranch sauces are house made. They make great sauces to dip your fries in.
Choose from a fun selection of mini Nathan gourmet hot dogs. My favorite is the Windy City topped with mustard, onion, relish, dill pickle, tomatoes, sport peppers, and celery salt.
Or try the Tobacco Road with slaw, chili, cheese, onion, mustard, and mayo.
Save room for a mini slider! The cheeseburger is a killer! The reuben is on point. I want to try the “Pawful of Falafel” on my next visit…..
The menu is affordable. You won’t break the bank trying all the fun minis!
Vinnie Van Go Go
Sometimes you just need a good slice of pizza and Vinnie Van Go Go is the perfect place to grab a slice in Savannah.
There is always a line out the door and seating can be hard to get. However the wait is worth it. Or you can always order your pizza to go and eat it on a park bench in one of the beautiful historical gardens.
Dough is made daily, cheese is freshly grated, the crust is thin, and slices are BIG. They have an array of toppings and the price is relatively cheap.
They also serve beer, salad, and calzones. Bring cash because that is all they will take!
Bella Napoli Italian Bistro
Bella Napoli Italian Bistro is hidden on a side alley in the Historic Savannah District. If you love authentic Italian food, this place is a must-go on your bucket list.
It is a small restaurant with seating for less than 20 tables each covered in a cute red and white checker table cloth. Pizza dough, sauces, and some of the pastas are all house made.
The pizza is fantastic, Spaghetti and Meatballs are phenomenal, and the Spaghetti Alle Vongole is a personal favorite.
With my little dog by my side, I like to come for lunch and eat at their outdoor seating. I order a nice glass of red wine, and a lovely pasta dish. I almost forget I am visiting Savannah and instead feel like I am in Italy.
The Olde Pink House
The Olde Pink House is a MUST-EAT Savannah Restaurant. The moment you walk in, you will be seduced by the beautiful Old-World Southern Decor, in this 18th Century Historic Mansion. It is a lovely setting for date nights and special occasions.
Food at the Olde Pink House is authentic Southern cuisine with a gourmet twist. With choices such as fried tempura battered lobster to oysters on a half shell with a watermelon relish, your taste buds are going to be pleased. The house made corn bread biscuits are so soft and light, they practically melt in your mouth.
If you are a Bloody Mary lover, you must try Olde Pink House’s Bloody Mary. They are fantastic. However, all of their cocktails are excellent. They make their own Bourbon and are famous for their house-made Madeira wine.
What to order? That really is a good question. Everything is cooked so perfectly. The Crispy Scored Flounder is a must. If you are really hungry, the Bone-In Ribeye Cowboy is quite a steak! The crab cakes are full of huge lumps of crab meat…. But really , everything is delicious.
However, it is imperative to include some of their sides. Their simple side dishes masterly represent traditional Southern comfort foods. My favorites are the butter beans, sweet potatoes, and their award winning creamy stone grits.
Desserts do not disappoint either! The homemade ice cream or key lime pie are heavenly!
700 Drayton Restaurant
The 700 Drayton Restaurant makes the list of best restaurants in Savannah for their stunning atmosphere. Dress up and visit here for a special occasion or a romantic date night.
700 Drayton has a spectacular craft cocktail menu. Dinner is exceptional here. Their unique, eclectic dishes are made in house and plated elegantly and colorfully.
While the scallops are scrumptious, you can never go wrong with any of their steaks and chops. 700 Drayton does serve brunch, lunch, and dinner.
I recommend starving all day so you can save room for a four course meal. You will want to try the shareables, salad, soup, entree, and dessert. Everything is so incredible that this a restaurant worth saving your appetite for!
Tubby’s Seafood On the River
For a dog friendly place that will love your pup almost as much as you do, try Tubby’s Seafood on the River! They will welcome you and your dog on their upstairs patio overlooking the river.
The menu is casual, but food is good. The she crab soup is EXCELLENT! The fried green tomatoes are great for sharing.
The peel and eat shrimp are fresh, big, and juicy. They make a terrific homemade garlic hot sauce dip for the shrimp. The fish is fresh caught and cooked perfect. Order the fish on a po’boy or salad. Either will be great.
River House Seafood
For a locally owned restaurant along Savannah’s river walk, try River House Seafood. It is housed in what was once King Cotton Warehouse in the 1820’s. The seafood is fresh and tasty.
The Prince Edward Mussels and the Spicy Garlic Shrimp are scrumptious. You definitely don’t want to miss out on their Lobster and Lump Crab Bisque. It is fantastic!!
The River House Seafood is famous for their Shrimp and Grits, Grouper Florentine, Paella, and Chatham Artillery Punch. I am told their Pecan Pie is the best in Savannah.
The inside atmosphere is beautiful, but if the weather is nice; I recommend dining in the outdoor seating and enjoying the views of the river.
Dub’s Pub River Street
Did you know you can walk around with open drinks containing alcohol in the Historic District of Savannah? Although the menu looks great, I have never actually had the opportunity to eat at Dub’s Pub River Street.
I intend to eat there on my next visit and will update you on my experience. HOWEVER, I can not write this post without mentioning them, because I have had the pleasure of drinking their Bloody Marys! I consider myself a Bloody Mary connoisseur and I have to say, theirs rank on my top 10.
What makes their Bloody Marys so fantastic is their homemade infused vegetable vodka. I do this myself in my Bloody Mary Vodka Infusion recipe. Therefore, any time I see a restaurant infusing vodka, I know it is going to be good!
Dub’s Pub River Street Bloody Marys are loaded with a liberal serving of that tasty infused vegetable vodka mixed with Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix. They add a few extra spices then top them with a pickled okra, pepperoncini, olive, and cheese stick.
The result is PERFECTION! I visit Dub’s every time I am Savannah. My husband and I order a little “roadie” and walk around sight seeing the outdoor views as we drink our cocktail. It is such a fun tradition!
Honorable Mentions:
I love Savannah. I go there as much as I can. Even so, it is hard to hit all the great spots in short mini vacations. The following restaurants have been highly recommended from my food blogger friends.
They are on my bucket list to try. When I do, I will update this post. In the meantime you might also want to try the following:
Have I missed your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know. I love to try new places and I might not of heard of it. Also, I will be updating this list as I check out other new favorites. Stay tuned for more!!!!!
For more restaurant recommendations, check out: Best Restaurants Near Boone, NC, Best Restaurants in Fayetteville, NC, Paulie’s Pig Out, and The Fearrington House Restaurant.
Megan says
Try The Grove! It is amazing! I know they say that Moon River is one of the best places for chicken fingers but I believe The Grove’s is the best I have ever had anywhere! Also their brussel sprouts are amazing! The sauce they use and pieces of bacon in it are soooo good! Also try the champagne pop. Its champagne with a popsicle in it! Definitely a place to try!
Sheryl says
Savannah is such a wonderful town for foodies. These restaurants sound wonderful.