81 Best Restaurants in Savannah, Georgia
Southern cuisine is rich in tradition, but the dining scene in Savannah is more than just fried chicken and barbecue. Many of the city's restaurants have been exploring locally sourced ingredients as a way to tweak their usual homespun offerings, a change that is now attracting chefs and foodies alike.
Although the farm-to-table trend was first spotted at upscale spots like Elizabeth on 37th and Local 11ten, more neighborhood restaurants are now getting in on the action. Places like the Green Truck Pub utilize locally raised, grass-fed beef for their burgers, and after-dinner options now even include locally roasted coffee.
The arrival of some new kids on the block doesn't mean the old standbys have ridden off into the sunset just yet. For traditional, exquisitely prepared menus, be sure to visit the Olde Pink House, which has been pleasing local palates for decades. Or follow the crowds to the ever-popular Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room (which even President Obama once visited), where you’ll find all the fried chicken, collard greens, and mac ’n' cheese you can handle.
That's just a few ideas to get you started. While exploring Savannah, you're sure to find any number of other exciting options as well, whether you're craving noodle bowls or a simple sandwich.
Pacci Italian Kitchen
Pacci has the look and taste of a high-end Italian eatery, but with a laid-back and welcoming atmosphere. Guests gather in the beautifully designed dining room or the open-air patio for signature cocktails like the Biarritz or the Negroni before moving on to some of the best charcuterie and crudites platters in the city. Breads, pastas, desserts, and pickled vegetables are all made in-house.
Pier 16 Seafood Restaurant
With two tiers of outdoor dining decks, Pier 16 makes the most of Tybee's island sunshine. Cuisine is slightly elevated above standard beachside fare, but still includes staples like fish or shrimp tacos, crab-stuffed mushrooms, and various oyster preparations. If you're feeling ambitious, the fried and steamed seafood tower includes the best of shrimp, scallops, oyster, calamari, and other menu items and feeds three to four people.
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The Public Kitchen & Bar
A prime location at the corner of Liberty and Bull streets, café-style outdoor dining, and a chic bar adorned with an industrial-style chandelier—Public Kitchen & Bar has it all. Despite the upscale atmosphere, the food is approachable and affordable with contemporary classics like shrimp and grits, and mussels steamed with chorizo and leeks. Not hungry? Don't be afraid to belly up to the bar for a finely crafted cocktail or a glass of wine.
Salt Island Fish and Beer
This casual eatery specializes in fresh takes on typical beach food, like smoked fish dip made with the local catch, a mahi mahi banh mi, shrimp bruschetta, and blue crab poutine. You can still get your favorites, though, as the innovative menu also includes standards like beer-battered flounder and fisherman's stew served over jasmine rice. There are several vegetarian side options that can be made vegan as well, which is rare for a seafood restaurant. Round your meal out with a craft beer or cocktail from the bar.
Sisters of the New South
Traditional Southern home cookin' comes with a smile at Sisters of the New South, where you'll be greeted as "honey" or "baby" (or both) as you place your order. Try the smothered pork chops or the fried whiting, though you can't go wrong with the generous "Meat & Three"—a choose-your-own foodie adventure. Oxtails served with collard greens, red rice, and yams is a perennial favorite.
Sly's Sliders and Fries
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.
Starland Cafe
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.
Starland Yard Food Truck Park
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.
Strangebird
Operating inside of a well-preserved 1938 Worcester Streamliner, Strangebird serves up casual, approachable eats with a Mexican flair. The appetizing aromas of smoked meats and Yucatan marinades fill the cozy diner car, which has already amassed a flock of devoted patrons since its opening in July 2023.
Sushi Zen Southside
If you've had your fill of Southern cuisine, head to this quality spot in a strip mall for award-winning sushi, daily specialty rolls, and grilled meat and noodle dishes. The longtime fixture has been around since 1998. Although Chef Yoshi has passed away, the service continues here.
Treylor Park
Tricks BBQ
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.
Troy Mediterranean Cuisine
Don't let the strip mall location fool you; this spacious restaurant offers authentic Greek and Italian specialties with romantic ambience. The pita bread is soft and pillowy, perfect for the creamy hummus and baba ganoush, and entrées like falafel platters and the merlot-braised lamb shank come in hearty, generous portions.
Tybean Art & Coffee Bar
The Vault Kitchen and Market
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.
Vic's on the River
This upscale Southern charmer is one of the finest spots in town for well-executed Southern delicacies like andouille hash and seafood po'boys. The five-story brick building was originally designed by the famous New York architect John Norris as a warehouse in the 19th century and was painstakingly renovated into the elegant space you'll find these days; reserve a window table for great views of the Savannah River. Lunch is popular with local business executives and out-of-towners looking for quick and delicious options. The wine list is nothing short of formidable and suits every palate and price range, and the super-rich praline cheesecake is strongly recommended. Grab a copy of the eatery's cookbook to get more insight about what's going on in the kitchen.
Vinnie Van Go-Go's
With a secret dough recipe and a homemade sauce, Vinnie's is critically acclaimed by pizza and calzone enthusiasts from around the Southeast. Lots of visitors get a kick out of watching the cooks throw the dough in the air in the big open kitchen, but there are only a few tables inside, along with a long stretch of stools at the bar; the heart of the restaurant is its plentiful outdoor seating, great for people-watching. Because of its prime City Market location, the wait for a table can be an hour or more, but you'll understand why with one bite of your pie. Long-known as cash-only, Vinnie's can now accept credit cards as well.
Zunzibar
Evolved from the Historic District express sandwich shop, Zunzibar is a rainbow-colored respite from anything that brings you down. It's bright and open air, and features a variety of cocktails and refreshing beverages alongside bar bites like Peri-Peri cheese dip and mustafa curry hot wings that fit perfectly alongside the original dishes and sandwiches that brought them to the national stage.
Desposito's
This place is about as low key as it gets, as evidenced by the neon beer signs on the walls and the day-old newspapers doubling as tablecloths. Located just across the bridge from Savannah, Desposito's has been serving up cold beer and fresh fish for decades and the no-nonsense menu offers a small but tempting variety of seafood, as well as options for landlubbers.