16 Best Restaurants in Starland District, Thomas Square, and Midtown, Savannah

This elegant turn-of-the-20th-century mansion has been feeding regional specialties to Savannah's upper crust for decades. Chef Kelly Yambor has helmed the kitchen since 1996, and she masters dishes like Georgia shrimp and Savannah red rice, a double-cut Berkshire pork chop with apple-cabbage slaw, and local grouper Celeste (with a sesame-almond crust). Splurge for the chef's seven-course tasting menu—you won't regret it. Definitely ask for wine recommendations, as the wine cellar is massive and the staff is knowledgeable. The service is also impeccable. This is a local favorite for special occasions or just to get away from the hubbub.

A full-service coffee shop featuring lovingly-crafted lattes and a Tex-Mex menu, Foxy Loxy is the always-busy hangout for students, artists, and entrepreneurs. Order a horchata and take your laptop out to the courtyard, where a koi pond, acoustic music, and Saturday night s'mores parties at the firepit invite folks to lounge in the open air.

If your taste buds seek something other than standard Southern fare, head to one of Savannah's few Middle Eastern restaurants. Owned and operated by a husband-and-wife team Meqbel and Rose Salameh Al Salaam, the restaurant is celebrated for its perfectly fried falafel, spit-roasted lamb, and hummus and baba ganoush platters. Take time to look around the small space, enticingly papered over with vintage covers of National Geographic, which depict cultures from the world over.

With an approachable-but-classy atmosphere and an all-day menu full of American classics, there's something for everyone at this bustling neighborhood hotspot. Stacked burgers and sandwiches, hearty salads, and creamy pasta dishes dominate the lunch and dinner menus, while egg dishes and waffles pair up with a mimosa-laden weekend brunch.

The new kid on the Starland block elevates Southern staples like fried chicken and oysters with high presentation and super-charged flavors. Locals flock to the spacious patio for late afternoon cocktails and house-made pickles, and the dining room buzzes with sociability and a kickin' soundtrack.

Every night is taco night at this bright and busy spot. Handmade tortillas, authentic recipes, and tasty vegetarian options bring delicious depth to the usual street-style taco fare. Non-taco options include tasty rice bowls and a killer poke salad with sushi-grade tuna. Enjoy happy hour at the newly renovated bar with tangy house margaritas and fresh-made chips and salsa.

Embodying the new Southern cuisine, Cotton & Rye offers a menu that is creative and artistic with a strong sense of tradition. You'll see classic, recognizable comfort dishes like shrimp n' grits and thick bone-in pork chops, but careful intention goes into the preparation and presentation that results in delightful sensory surprises. The casual-chic dining room embraces the design boldness of 1950s bank architecture and unfolds around the central bar, serving up some of Savannah's best cocktails. Stop by for an excellent happy hour on the back patio.

Serving one of the best burgers in the state, this casual haunt draws diners from far and wide for its grass-fed beef—though vegetarians will find satisfaction with the hearty meatless patties. Everything from the coffee to the produce is locally sourced, and even the ketchup is made in-house. There is a revolving public art installation in the drive-thru section out back.

Be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table or grab a seat at the bar.

From the same owners as Foxy Loxy and the Coffee Fox, this wide-open, family-oriented café offers a place for kids to explore the art project of the day while parents enjoy some caffeine. The menu also includes vegan donuts, grab-and-go sandwiches, and the in-house bakery's famous kolaches.

This palm-shaded eatery is the sister restaurant to the original downtown location and hands down the best spot for vegetarian and vegan options in the city. There's also more than enough on the menu to keep a meat eater happy—consider the fried chicken tacos or the chicken-and-goat-cheese enchiladas. If you have your mind on a cocktail, gather 'round the bar for a Hot Derby with spicy ginger ale. There's ample parking and several big screens where you can watch the big game.

This richly decorated, renovated mansion houses one of the finest dining experiences outside of downtown with grand flourishes like antique furniture, a piano bar, and a chapel space upstairs surrounded by stained glass. White-tablecloth settings match the traditional menu of Italian favorites—the herbed risotto is recommended as a first course, followed by the tagliatelle vongole. The wine selection—kept in an ancient cellar reached by a narrow stone staircase—is a lesson in thoughtful curation. The lovely patio hosts live music most weekends.

Tiny burgers get gourmet treatment and are paired with generous portions of perfectly crispy skinny fries at this local favorite. Try the Mr. Chow, which comes with a fried egg and extra bacon, or the Lil Sandy with pulled pork; vegetarians can chow down on the Shroomwich, featuring three kinds of marinated fungi. This is a great lunch spot—call ahead to order a sackful for a fabulous picnic.

Housed in a brightly painted two-story house, this legendary lunch spot is the restaurant that started the neighborhood's renaissance. From the fresh-pressed vegetarian Greek panini (brimming with crispy asparagus, hummus, marinated artichokes, feta, tomato, pesto, and house aioli) to the generously portioned Kitchen Sink Salad (dates, raisins, artichokes, apples, grapes, crunchy rice noodles, tomatoes, and onion), it’s hard to go wrong with a menu that prioritizes freshness and locally sourced greens. Folks travel for miles just for the tomato Thai soup.

Rotating food trucks means that menus revolve weekly at this literal playground constructed out of old shipping containers. Two permanent fixtures are a well-stocked central bar and Pizzeria Vittoria, whose piping hot oven manned by award-winning chef Kyle Jacovino churns out the neighborhood's best pizza. A credit card is taken upon entry, so visitors can order at the yard's multiple food sites and pay one bill as they exit. The park often hosts live music, and cornhole and other games make for a festive atmosphere.

You can usually smell the delicious aroma before you see the line snaking around this outdoor pit stop right off Victory Drive. Using mouthwatering smoke techniques and a secret golden mustard sauce recipe, Tricks serves up to-go containers of the finest ribs around. Snack-sized portions are perfect for a taste, or try a slab dinner to feed the fam. Get there by early afternoon—they close up shop at 4 pm but often sell out earlier.

An anchor on the Bull Street Corridor, this former bank features a varied menu of Asian fusion and sushi delights. The bright and bustling space, which honors its financial past in clever design choices and menu descriptions, welcomes visitors with flavors from Laos, Japan, and beyond, including melt-in-your-mouth miso salmon. With diverse entrée, cocktail, and sushi menus, it's a great place for a casual lunch or date night out.