Casual Good Savannah Restaurants
 

My husband and I will be visiting Savannah for our first time in May.

This is sort of a "get away from it all" trip, as we just had a beloved 18 year old pet die and feel the need for some R&R.

We will be there for 3 days/nights, and would like to just experience some casual, laid-back restaurants. We really don't feel like dressing up for dinner this trip.

A few restaurants we've read about are listed below. If anyone has personal experience and can tell us they are what we are looking for or not - or suggest others -we would appreciate it.

Vinnie Van Gos
Mrs. Wilkes
Lady and Sons
Bistro Savannah
Garibaldis
Sapphire Grill
Pasticcio
Soho South Cafe
Pink House (I think this is dressy?)

I think Mrs. Wilkes is a must for lunch, and it can't get any more casual than this.

We were going to Lady and Sons, but there was a wait, and instead went next door to Bistro Savannah and had a really great meal. Still quite casual, but a much nicer place than Lady and Sons (and not so brightly lit).

I think the Lady and Sons is delicious and highly recommend it. To get a table, you need to call the day before (or even the morning of) and make a reservation--then you're guaranteed a seating at a certain time. The food is wonderful and the people are so nice. Don't miss it.

As for the Old Pink House, it's not really casual--more upscale and more expensive. You would also need reservations to eat there. The food is good, but if you're planning on sticking to casual places, you might save it for another trip.

I'm sorry to hear about your pet. I hope you'll enjoy the trip--Savannah is beautiful.

On our recent drive to Fla., we "happened in" to Bistro Savannah & had a very nice meal on our 1 night in Savannah.

There's an NPR program called the Splendid Table which recently highlighted Mrs. Wilkes (very favorably).

So sorry about your pet.

I don't know a thing about Savannah, but I wanted to sympathize with you about your beloved pet.

Two years ago, my precious 5-year-old cat, with whom I had traveled all over North America, died of a heart problem, 2 days before my kids and I were leaving for a trip to Cancun. Although I was really, really sad, I didn't have the worry that my cat would miss me or that something would happen to him while we were gone. As I floated in the wonderful swimming pool at our resort in Cancun, somehow I felt my kitty was with us, floating just above in the clouds.

Wander...I'm so sorry about your pet. Hope a get away will help a little. I eye our 17 year old cat as she hobbles down stairs she used to tear down and cringe at what iies ahead. It's very very difficult!

We used to live in Savannah and although it's been 3 years since our last return visit, I think I can help some with the restaurants. As others have said, and you guessed, Pink House is dressy, one of 3 places in town I really dressed for, the others being Elizabeths on 37th and 45 South. Close, but not as dressy, is Sapphire Grill. I'd wear chic-casual there. My husband would probably wear a jacket, but I can guarantee, that is him and plenty don't! Reservations a must there too. Il Pasticcio you see virtually everything, from chic to very casual, but I'd put them a level below Sapphire Grill (for food as well). Garibaldi's you can go in slacks, maybe less (tourists wear anything and everything almost anywhere and everywhere). Their food was good--not great. Mrs Wilkes (I agree, you must go...it's a terrific experience) and Lady and Sons are both good and both very casual. Mrs Wilkes isn't open on weekends, and not for dinner--breakfast and lunch only. Soho South Cafe is new to me. Another if you have a car, is the Crab Shack on the way to Tybee Island...Estril Hammock Rd, not far past Ft Pulaski, but on the south side of the road. It's about a 15-20 minute drive if you are staying downtown in the historic district.

The only one I never &quot;got&quot; (it <i>is</i> popular), was Vinnie Van Go-Gos. I love pizza and theirs is good, but it truly is a joint. If you are in the area for lunch, (City Market)fine, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.

Have a great trip and again, I'm sorry about your pet. Time <i>is</i> a great healer, but there will always be a spot in your heart....

Try The Dockside on River Street. Great, light, tasty hush puppies. And the Low Country Boil is excellent.

I do recommend Garibaldi's, Lady &amp; Sons, and Bistro. If you want to venture away from downtown, try Pearl's Elegant Pelican in the Isle of Hope area for seafood beside the marsh. Il Pasticcio was too chic and pricey for my taste.

Just wanted to point out that Lady and Sons no longer takes reservations for parties of less than 10. I confirmed this with the restaurant via e-mail today as we are planning a visit in a couple of months.

First let me say, I am so sorry for the loss of your dear pet. We have been through that, and have a 14 year old Cairn now, so I feel for you.

Craig, we were just at Lady &amp; Sons a couple of weeks ago, and I called a week ahead for our reservation....so this is obviously a very new policy, only reserving for 10 or more. Half the reason I go to Savannah is to eat at Lady &amp; Sons!!!! Wanderer, don't miss it. I also love to eat at River House right on the river on Factor's Walk. Their food is delicious, and we like to walk along the river after dinner...... so lovely with all the lights, etc., shimmering on the water.

Bsam, we were just at Isle of Hope (accidentally.....took the wrong road), and were just BLOWN AWAY by the huge old azalea bushes, white dogwoods, &quot;moss&quot;........ all at peak!

The Savannah area is a great getaway........... but, everybody, go before the heat and humidity arrive BIG TIME in a few weeks!;-)

Just got back from Savannah. We enjoyed the Lady and Sons, too. Paula Deen was there, and also, her 2 sons, so that made it fun. Paula has just married a boat captain, and had her own wedding reception there. Try and go to the Pink house just for a drink, and hear the piano playing. Our favorite place to eat ended up being the Pirate`s house. It wasn`t dressy, but we did make a reservation. The baby back ribs were the best I have ever eaten. I`m sorry we missed out on Mrs. Wilkes, but you can`t eat everywhere! The flounder was great at Garibaldi. it had a spicy sweet and sour sauce on it, and was huge.

My sympathies on your pet. It sounds like you need some R &amp; R. My mom and I spent a long weekend in Savannah last summer and loved it. I would suggest driving over to Tybee Island if you get a chance and spend a few hours on the beach. There is also a cute shopping area just as you enter the Island on the north side of the road that is all old fishing shacks that they have moved together and all the spaces are rented by artists and little shops. We also loved the Crab Shack on Tybee. yes, it's touristy but sit out on the water and take in the warm weather.The shrimp boil was great.

Hi Wanderer! I live in Savannah and we go to some of those restaurants a lot but you don't necessarily have to dress up. (except for pink house). We've been to Il Pasticcio and Saphire in jeans and nice shirts and shoes. A lot of the places you listed are dimly lit but lively type places (a lot of white noise). If I had to suggest dinner I would say Il Pasticcio or Bistro. Lady and Sons is famous but the food is not that spectacular for the wait. but that's only me b/c I am from the south and my mom's fried chicken blows L&amp;S's out of the water! :)I work in a restaurant called Fiddler's on River St. Good seafood,burgers, sandwiches. If you want to wait you can sit out on our deck and eat overlooking the river. also try tubby's on river st(also has an upstairs deck with misters). these are great lunch spots to relax and and do some people watching. Vinnie's is GREAT pizza. its a small fun artsy place with HUGE slices. I suggest pepperoni and pesto. Grab a beer and watch (and listen)to the pizza tossers. They have very interesting conversation with each other!

I've been to Vinnie's a few times and really like the atmosphere and the fact that's it open late, but what's up with the cheese they use? It's not pure mozzarella. It tastes like it has a provolone additive or maybe even that Provel crap they use in St. Louis. That's my only complaint, but as it's pizza, it's a big one.

Hi,

I just returned from Savannah and it was wonderful. We walked into a nice B&amp;B and asked the desk for a recommendation for dinner and we were not dressed up. They recommended a Tapas Restaurant called Jazz and as we were walking there, we saw this huge line around this restaurant and say that it was the lady and sons. We walked up to the front and asked the girl if we needed a reservation and she said no. I asked her what the line was for and she said people sign up with her and then wait in line. I asked her if we signed up, how long would the wait be and she said 7 minutes. See, it was 4:53pm on a Friday night and the restaurant opened at 5pm. We put our name down and with a few minutes we were seated. I recommend the buffet, it was wonderful. Paula was there, her sons were there, we took pictures, talked to them. I also ate lunch at a Irish Pub restaurant with red phone booth outside. I had a nice big salad and a bowl of excellent french onion soup.

TTT for &quot;mcfarm&quot;