Savannah restaurant choices
 

Four sisters and elderly mom will be visiting Savannah end of March. I'm in charge of researching restaurants. We hope to enjoy a mix of fine dining, seafood, barbeque and Southern food. I've looked up menus on line where possible and am aware of pricing of some of the restaurants (such as Gottlieb's). We will have 5 dinner and 4 lunch opportunities; breakfast is included at our hotel. We will have a car.

I need to edit choices--please help. . . .

Dinner (need 5)

Vic's on the River(new place--first night for view)
Gottlieb's
Bistro Savannah
The Olde Pink House
(NEED A GREAT LOCAL SEAFOOD OR BARBEQUE PLACE)

Runners up:

Garibaldi's
Il Pasticio
45 Bistro
45 South
Sapphire Grill
aVida (especially for the wine list)

(more casual)
Pearl's Saltwater Grill
Johnny Harris
Skyler's
Churchill's
Moon River Brewing Company
Toucan Cafe
AJ Dockside
Love's Seafood
Wall's Barbeque

Lunch: Soho South Cafe, Gryphon Team Room, Mrs. Wilkes, Skyler's (best crab cake?), Vinny Van Go Go for pizza

Who should be eliminated? Any feedback on Pearl's Saltwater Grill--rated best for seafood by Savannah Magazine.

Who gives the best ghost tour? Who gives the best walking tours?

Is Tybee worth a visit? Is there a good place to have lunch on the beach?

For a day trip would you go to Charleston, Beaufort or St. Simons? Mom can't walk all day but no problem if there are periodic rests.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this long post and especially thanks for any input and help.

The finest "fine dining" experience we've had there is Elizabeth on 37. It's been a few years, so someone may need to update.
We loved Bistro Savannah.

Don't miss Mrs. Wilke's for lunch (breakfast somehow was a dissapointment). It's just too much a tradition to ignore, especially when they ask you to take your plates to the kitchen, and you won't find better fried chicken anywhere.

You could skip Love's as it takes a drive to get there.

About Mrs. Wilkes. If your mother has problems with standing for long periods, you could skip this one too. There is often a long wait to get in. The food is down home Southern Cooking, and unless you like sharing a table with strangers and passing dishes back and forth, you may be disappointed.

Many thanks for the quick replies. Elizabeth's has gotten some less than stellar reviews of late.

We would love to try the Southern food experience, but Lady & Son's has gotten very poor reviews on chowhound.com the last year or so. Mrs. Wilkes seemed like a good alternative and I understand the locals go to Mrs. Wilkes but steer clear of Lady & Sons.

Any others I can eliminate from the list? Anyone know of Pearl's Saltwater Grill?

Just returned on Friday from a wonderful trip to Savannah and Jekyll Island.

I LOVED Elizabeth on 37th for dinner. Our food was wonderful and service impeccable. I'd return again in a heartbeat.

My second favorite dining experience was Sapphire Grille. The tuna pastrami/caulifower soup appetizer was amazing, and I enjoyed the halibut entree.

We had a light meal at Planters Tavern, which is in the basement of the Olde Pink House. Same menu, cozy and less formal atmosphere. The stairs to the Tavern were rather narrow in case that's an issue for your mom. I was a tad disappointed with the food compared to the above places.

Moon River Brewery has good beer. We only had an appetizer there, fried green tomatoes and crabmeat, which was tasty.

We stopped at Uncle Bubba's Oyster House on our way to Tybee Island. Only had the steamed shrimp, so I can't comment on entrees, but it was yummy as well as the cornbread. It's also a very nice location overlooking the marsh.

I didn't enjoy Tybee Island so much. But I adored Jekyll Island.

BTW, hats off to that southern hospitality! All of the wait staff were very friendly.

ctkathy, you didn't mention any place for a cocktail. If interested, we found a nice spot at the Mansion on Forsythe Park, rooftop bar. The weather was perfect and it was a lovely place to relax. A little pricey, but enjoyable.

A couple comments about dining in Savannah:

I found the wines to be rather over priced compared to many other cities.

Also, if you like fish and seafood, it appears that the freshest items were shrimp and grouper.

Have a wonderful time!

Now, about Pearl's Saltwater Grill. It's just a few blocks from where I live so I can safely say that it gets a steady stream of local customers so it must be something about it that is good!! It is in a lovely, on the marsh setting. It's been a couple of years since we have eaten there. We enjoyed the food then, but I can't comment on how it is now.

It's casual, with the main emphasis on seafood.

For BBQ I would recommend the Pink Pig, its in Levy SC, just across the big bridge out of Savannah on the 170 Alternate off of 17. Call ahead for hours of operation, I think they are only open a few days a week and may not be open for dinner.
As far as the alternate list is concerned, I've heard that the Saltwater Grill is very good for seafood. Sapphire Grill is also a favorite of mine (keep in mind that Ellis Square is under heavy construction so parking around City Market will be a little difficult)
As far as the casual list is concerned, Toucan is a favorite, I always take my parents there when they visit me. AJ's is also very fun but out on Tybee (its a good 20 minute drive out there and not really a spectacular beach or special shopping, just a sleepy little beach town). I'm not sure that Wall's is still there, you may want to check first. Churchills is also very fun, they will open up the roof deck for dining in the next couple of weeks (not a great view but one of the few places to sit outside and eat where the bugs arent so bad). Moon River and Johnny Harris are not on my favorites list.
Keep in mind that Vinny's is only open for lunch on the weekends.
I love Beaufort but there is a lot of walking to be done, plus the waterfront area is under construction so that detracts from its charm a bit. Charleston is also beautiful and may have more in the way of coach/buggy tours so you dont have to walk so much.
I took some friends of mine on Ghost Talk Ghost Walk the last time they came to visit and they thought it was the highlight of the whole trip. Have fun!

Regarding Mrs. Wilkes. If one of your party has trouble standing, they will cheerfully find her a seat inside while the rest of you wait.

Yes, I should have mentioned sharing a table with strangers and passing big platters of food and bowls of vegetables is the routine there. If that offends you, don't go! And if you would be angered by their asking you to take your own plate to the kitchen, then stay away too. It's all part of the fun, in my opinion.

Interesting about Elizabeth. I guess it would be asking too much for that wonderful place to still be so good after so many years.

You are all wonderful to share such great information. I'd definitely like to try that spot at the Forsyth for drinks.

Resident 02--thanks so much for the updated info on restaurants. Pink Pig is definitely on my list! Sounds great.

We are going to be there the weekend of the Garden Expo, March 30-April 1. I was going to book the Jazz Brunch for all of us, but when I went on line today to book it looks like it is sold out. I don't really want to go to the Westin for brunch, but is there anyplace else that might have a jazz brunch?

I made reservations at Vic's on the River, Gottlieb's, and Bistro Savannah. I still have two more to figure out, but I think one will be The Olde Pink House as it is across the street from the end of the Ghost Talk, Ghost Walk tour so that is convenient.

Many, many thanks.

Regarding Mrs. Wilkes--I knew about clearing the dishes and community seating. That's fine with us--part of the old Boarding House atmosphere.

resident02,
We are driving to Savannah Sunday. Is the Pink Pig very far over from I-95? We are spending Sunday night at the HI Express, Port Wentworth at I95 and state rte 21 and a detour for good food would not bother us.

Levy does not show on the map.

Hwy 170A, north of Savannah 15 min. toward Hilton Head

843-784-3635

This info from offthebeatenpath.com. Hope it helps.

I like the Pink House, especially the she-crab soup and the crispy snapper.

Thanks ctkathy, we'll try it Sunday.

Monday and Tuesday we will be in Savannah reviewing hotels for a reunion site. I'm thinking of Uncle Bubba's OysterHouse on Monday night, and Pearl's Seafood Grill on Tuesday. I understand that Tybee's Crab Shack is also very good.

Bryant's Pink Pig Barbeque is not open on Sunday, which is the day I would like to go, too. Hope we can get there.

Hours of Operation:

Day of the Week Open: Open Seafood?
Wednesday 11 - 3 No
Thursday 11 - 3 5 - 7 Yes
Friday 11 - 3 5 - 7:30 Yes
Saturday 11 - 7 Yes

Sorry, that website is http://www.savannahoffthebeatenpath.com