Frenchtowner Travel Guide » Savannah

Best Restaurants in Savannah

FT — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:30:34 +0000

Deciding on the best of anything is a real challenge, and naming the best restaurant in Savannah is no different. There are so many styles of food, each being good in their own right with their own qualities that we judge them by. Comparing a great down home meal at Mrs. Wilke’s to an incredible gourmet feast for the senses at Sapphire Grill is a bit like comparing a boat ride down the Amazon to a roller coaster ride at Disney World. We all have different tastes and what one person sees as great, another one sees as mundane, frumpy, ostentatious or silly.

For that reason, we have 3 different Best of Savannah Restaurant Features: Our Interactive Editor’s Choice Awards, Our Top 10 Digest, and Our More “Best-Of” Lists.

Editor’s Choice Awards

The first feature is our Editor’s Choice Awards. We’ve named the Best Restaurants in Savannah by categories like the best coffee shop or the best contemporary fine dining or by the meal being served like the best breakfast in Savannah or the best cheap lunch. We’ve done our part and now it’s up to you to vote on our choices, to disagree with us by writing your own review or by suggesting your own choices for “Best of Savannah” in our interactive features. See the results and let us know your favorites here

Top 10 Savannah Restaurant Rankings Mashup

The second feature is our Top 10 Savannah Restaurants Internet Ratings Digest. We’ve compiled an exclusive Best of Savannah Restaurants List from some of the most popular restaurant ranking services online: Tripadvisor.com, Yahoo Travel and Fodors.com. Our list provides an overview that is often lost by only relying on one ranking service. Our methodology was quite simple. The top 10 restaurants were noted from each service and awarded a numerical value according to their place on that list, with number 1 receiving 10 points, number 2 receiving 9 points and so on, down to number 10 receiving 1 point. Here are the results without any further ado:

Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room: Mrs. Wilkes scores very high in every single reader’s poll.
Olde Pink House Restaurant: Savannah’s elegant restaurant in a 1771 mansion.
Bistro Savannah: Sultry, romantic atmosphere, contemporary dining.
Garibaldi’s Cafe: Chic, elegant, contemporary dining, one of our favorites.
Georges’ of Tybee (closed): A short drive from the historic district.
Vinnie Van Go-Go’s: Funky, inexpensive, a locals favorite for pizza. Tied for 6th with Il Pasticcio (# of reviews broke the tie).
Il Pasticcio (closed, but owners opened Broughton & Bull Restaurant in this same location): Lively restaurant and bar, contemporary Italian dining. Tied for 6th with Vinnie’s (# of reviews broke the tie).
45 South: Creative and contemporary dining, local ingredients
Cotton Exchange Tavern: In the heart of the historic district, one incredible place to dine. Tied for 9th with Kevin Barry’s (# of reviews broke the tie).
Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub: Traditional Irish food and music. Tied for 9th with Cotton Exchange (# of reviews broke the tie).

*Please note: Rankings may change from day to day on some of these sites, so this study is only meant to act as a snapshot in time. Frenchtowner.com is not affiliated in any way with any of the ranking sites, and for more details on these results, you will need to refer to each website. These results were compiled on April 29, 2007. This list was updated on April 17, 2011.

Savannah Seafood

More “Best-Of” Lists

Just in case your tastes are not exactly like ours, you might want to check out what other food writers, foodies, locals, travelers and tourists think about these and other restaurants in Savannah.

Cima Star of SavannahBest.com: A local food writer that loves to eat, and eat well
Savannah Magazine’s Best of Savannah Awards 2006: Where do locals eat?
TripAdvisor.com: Where do tourists eat? What are Savannah’s Top Restaurants?
Yahoo.com Travel/Dining: Reviews, Rants, Raves, Rankings from fellow travelers
10Best.com: What are Savannah’s Best Restaurants? Editorial and customer picks
Fodors Travel: Rankings: and Reviews from fellow travelers, travel and food writers
Restaurants/Dining Blog: from Savannah GA: Gourmet Girly on WordPress.com

Wright Square Cafe

ftzo — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:30:35 +0000

Wright Square Cafe serves breakfast and lunch. They are located away from the hustle and bustle of River and Bay Street.
Wright Square Cafe No Website
The Wright Square Cafe, as their name implies, is just around the corner from beautiful Wright Square in the most beautiful section of the historic district. The atmosphere here is that of a small European cafe or bistro.

The Cafe specializes in sandwiches with fresh baked breads, muffins and bagels. They also sell pastries and desserts. They also serve gourmet coffee, espresso, and have a wide selection of fine chocolates.

Wright Square Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks or treats, everyday. In the summer months, they are closed on Sundays (June through September).

Window’s Chop House

ftzo — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:15:07 +0000

Window’s Chop House is the hotel restaurant at the Hyatt downtown on the Savannah waterfront.
Windows Chop House is located at the gigantic 351 room Hyatt Hotel located right on the waterfront. The atmosphere here is set by the gigantic floor to ceiling windows that overlook the Savannah River and all the activity of this busy commercial nautical thoroughfare, with it’s passing cargo ships, the gigantic cable suspension bridge and the paddle wheeled riverboats. The decor is open, contemporary and casual, with natural wood tables and linen napkins. The room and the view are probably most impressive at night by candlelight with the twinkling lights of the distant Whitaker Island in the background.

The Chop House serves a Southern Breakfast, A lunchtime Pasta and Salad Buffet and a Fine Dining Menu for Dinner featuring steaks and seafood. The hotel also has facilities for large parties, weddings, receptions, banquets, private and corporate/business parties.

The Chop House is open for 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. (Alternate listings, spellings: The Chophouse Savannah, The Hyatt Regency Restaurant, Hyatt Hotel Chop House Restaurant)

Wild Wing Cafe

ftzo — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:10:31 +0000

Wild Wing Cafe serves over 30 varieties of hot wings and other items in their restaurant in downtown Savannah.
The Wild Wing Cafe is located on Barnard Street near the intersection of Congress Street and the giant Ellis Square redevelopment project. It’s location places it right in the heart of “restaurant row” and “nightclub neighborhood” on Congress Street. The atmosphere here is that of a sports bar. It is casual and relaxed, with brick walls, hardwood floors, booths, wooden tables, and outdoor dining.

The main menu item is of course chicken wings, but until you see what they do with these oh-so-common appetizers, don’t dismiss them. Just the wings menu includes over 30 different types of chicken wings. Some highlights include: Bubba’s BBQ Wings, Thai Wings, Habanero Hots (Exceptionally hot wings), Chipotle, Garlic, Ginger, Jalapeno Cheddar, Italian Wings, Lemon Pepper, Honey Mustard, Lime-Cilantro, and Ragin’ Cajun Wings, just to name a few.

The appetizers menu includes such offerings as: Spinach Dips, Guacamole + Chips, Onion Rings, Loaded Baked Potatoes, Jalapeno Poppers, Garlic Cheese Toast, Chicken Pot Stickers, Pizza Pies (pizza with chicken, hot sauce, Ranch dressing, melted cheese), Nachos, Quesadillas, Shrimp, Chicken Fingers and Appetizer Samplers.

For soups and salads they offer selections like: Spicy Chili, Baked Potato Soups, Gumbos, Buffalo Chicken Salads (fried or grilled chicken with a Buffalo hot sauce on greens, bacon, cheese, bacon, blue cheese dressing), Club Salads (shaved roast beef, turkey and ham with 2 cheeses, greens, dressing choice) and Thai Chicken Salads (chicken breast strips marinated in nutty marinade atop greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots with toasted almonds, Chinese noodles, shredded cheese, warm peanut sesame dressing).

Their sandwich and wraps offerings include: Hamburgers and Chicken Sandwiches that you can add your marinades, cheeses, sauces, and toppings to, Pulled Pork or Chicken Barbeque Sandwiches, Wild Willie Sandwiches (hot shaved ham, sautéed mushrooms, melted Monterey Jack cheese, Dijon mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickles on bun), Hot Jackson Brown Sandwiches (hot roast beef, sautéed mushrooms, melted Pepper Jack cheese, wasabi horseradish sauce, butter toasted bun, French fries), Fajita Wraps, Turkey Wraps (turkey, Pepper Jack cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce, Chipotle mayonnaise, jalapeno cheddar tortilla wrap, fries) and more.

Their dinner entrees include: Ribs in any of their specialty wing sauces, Shrimp, Smothered Chicken (chargrilled chicken topped with grilled onions, mushrooms, peppers, Monterey Jack cheese), Mexicali Chicken (chicken breast marinated in hot sauce, grilled with onions and peppers, topped with ham, Monterey Jack cheese) and Lemon Pepper Chicken.

Wild Wings has a wide selection of wines, draft domestic and imported beers and microbrews, as well as offering a good selection of specialty martinis and cocktails. Every night of the week they have some sort of special event or promotion going on, so check out their website for more info. They feature live music, karaoke, happy hour or trivia depending on the night that you go. (Alternate listings, spellings: Wild Wings Cafe, Wild Wing Bar, Wild Wing Restaurant)

Wet Willie’s

ftzo — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:04:44 +0000

Wet Willie’s is more of a bar than a restaurant. It is located on River Street in the historic district.
Wet Willie’s is located on River Street in the heart of Savannah’s hottest nightclub district. The atmosphere here is that of a bar and nightclub, with a dance floor, a huge bar and pool tables.

The first thing you notice when you look at the menu here is that there are just as many specialty drink offerings as there are food items. Some highlights from their menu include: Tequila Strips (chicken breast strips marinated in Tequila, floured, fried, served with fries, chips or potato salad), Chicken Nachos (grilled chicken, tortilla chips, Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, Jalapeno peppers, fresh tomato salsa, sour cream and guacamole), Tequila Shrimp Salad (grilled shrimp with a tequila sauce over greens with tomatoes, peppers, red onions, cheese, carrots, croutons), Black Bean Soup, BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger, Willie’s Cheese Steak (sliced sirloin, grilled onions, mushrooms, cheese, cherry peppers, fresh baked roll) and Quesadillas.

Some of their specialty drinks include: Mojitos (bold lime taste Bacardi Limon, 190 proof grain alcohol) Monkey Shines (banana daiquiri with fresh bananas, rum), Call a Cabs (cherry and strawberry flavor with 190 proof grain alcohol) and Chocolate Thunders (cocoa, vanilla ice cream, vodka).

Willie’s is open 7 nights a week. Alternate spellings, listings: Wet Willy’s, Wet Willies, Wet Willie’s Restaurant, Wet Willie’s Bar, Club)

Wasabi’s: Wasabi Sushi Restaurant

ftzo — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:58:55 +0000

Wasabi’s serves sushi and Japanese cuisine on Martin Luther King Boulevard in the historic district in Savannah Georgia.
Wasabi’s is located on the Western edge of the historic district. It is a favorite of some of the business people who work downtown as a great place for a quick lunch and for others as having great sushi and traditional Japanese dishes.

They are open for lunch and dinner. Call restaurant for more information on days open and operating hours. (Alternate spellings, listings: Wasabi Sushi Bar, Wasabi’s Restaurant, Wasabi’s Japanese Restaurant)

More Information about Wasabi’s, Go Here

Wasabi’s: Gourmet Girly’s Review

Wasabi’s Reviews on Tripadvisor.com

Wall’s Bar B Que BBQ

ftzo — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:56:08 +0000

Wall’s Barbeque has been profiled in the New York Times and in the Chicago Tribune. They are only open 3 days a week.
Wall’s is located in a back alley in a residential area of town, about one block from East Broad Street in the Eastern section of the historic district. These neighborhoods with their moss and fern laden old oak trees, brick sidewalks and grand old homes are our favorite feature of Savannah, so if you make a trek to Wall’s, the walk over there, and the challenge of finding it, will be part of the adventure (By the way take your camera).

This tiny little hole in the wall restaurant has become famous in the city for several reasons. Walls has been featured in stories in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Georgia Trend Magazine, and ranks on Tripadvisor.com as one of the top restaurants in the entire city. (see references below) Visitors are fond of telling stories online about how hard it is to find them and how small the place is. Their customers just love the women that run this place. And last but not least, their customers are very happy with the food here.

The menu is quite small. They offer barbeque ribs, deviled crabs, chopped pork barbeque plates, pulled pork sandwiches and traditional Southern green beans, red rice, potato salad, coleslaw, greens with ham, and stewed okra and tomatoes. (the side dishes vary from time to time) They also usually have a couple of desserts on hand.

Wall’s is only open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for lunch and dinner. It is also a good place for budget minded travelers with lunch or dinner running about $8.00 per person or less. (Alternate listings, spellings: Wall’s Barbeque, Walls’ Barbeque, Walls BBQ, Walls Bar-B-Que, Bar-B-Cue, Wall’s Barbeque Restaurant)

More raves, rankings and required reading on Wall’s
Tripadvisor Rankings and Raves on Walls BBQ
New York Times Visits Savannah and Wall’s Barbeque
Chicago Tribune Review of Savannah and Wall’s: SavannahNow.com
Georgia Trend Magazine: Great Barbeque Places, Wall’s Makes The List

Tubby’s Tank House

ftzo — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:23:25 +0000

Tubby’s Tank House is one of the best spots for outdoor dining and cocktails in Savannah.
Tubby’s Tank House is one of the best spots for outdoor dining and cocktails in the entire city of Savannah. Sitting on their upstairs deck you have a view of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge, the gigantic cargo ships as they make they way up river to port, the paddle wheeled river boats, the waterfront park, the towering Westin Hotel and the convention center on Hutchinson Island. Sitting there, you get a sense of the grandeur and beauty of this city.

The atmosphere at Tubby’s is very rustic, down to earth and casual. Tubby’s resides in one of the many old warehouses that line River Street.

The menu here is all American, offering a wide selection of seafood and shellfish, hamburgers and sandwiches. At night they offer a more hearty menu.

The restaurant offers a full service bar, serving beers, wines and cocktails. They are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. (Alternate listings, spellings: Tubbies Tank House, Tubbys Tank House, The Tank House Restaurant)

Tony Romas Restaurant

ftzo — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:58:55 +0000

Tony Romas Restaurant serves BBQ baby back ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers and more on Bay Street in Savannah Georgia.
Tony Roma’s is located in an incredible historic building in the heart of the Savannah’s busy tourist and commercial district along beautiful Bay Street. It is within walking distance of many of the city’s most respected hotels and bed and breakfast inns. The atmosphere here is relaxed, casual and rustic with brick walls, hardwood tables, chairs and comfortable booths.

Tony Roma’s is the “pioneer of Baby Back Ribs” and a major force in the popularization of barbeque. This Southern restaurant began in Miami in 1972 and today has grown to establish 230 stores in 27 countries around the globe.

The menu here is gigantic, so we will break it down into sections. Roma’s appetizers, soups and salads menu includes such highlights as: Tomato Pesto Bruschettas (Roma tomatoes, pesto, basil, seasonings, toasted French bread), Buffalo Wings, Spinach Artichoke Dips, Caribbean Coconut Shrimp (huge shrimp, coconut breading, orange marmalade dipping sauce), their famous Onion Loaves (large breaded Spanish onions, deep fried, house BBQ dipping sauce), Baked Potato Soup (with cheddar cheese, bacon, chives), Caesar Salads and Sonoma Salads (mixed greens, green apple, pecans, dried cranberries, blue cheese crumbles, red wine vinaigrette, choice of grilled or fried chicken tenders).

Their sandwich and hamburger offerings include: Pulled Pork Sandwiches (hand pulled pork, dry rubbed, Memphis Barbeque Sauce), Veggie Burgers (veggie burger with Monterey Jack cheese, salsa), Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (fried chicken breast, Buffalo Sauce, Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onion rings on Ciabatta roll with blue cheese dressing on side), Blue Cheese Burgers, Portobello Swiss Burgers and Crispy Onion Burgers (hamburger, fried onion rings, cheddar cheese, original sauce). All sandwiches come with French fries and a pickle, while all burgers are made with 100% ground chuck, grilled and are served with French fries, tomatoes, lettuce, red onion rings and a pickle.

For their signature barbeque dishes they offer selections like: Original Baby Back Ribs, St. Louis Style Ribs, a Barbeque Combo (half slab of Carolina Honey’s St. Louis Style Ribs, grilled shrimp on skewer, 9 ounce sirloin) and other make-your-own barbeque rib combos with choices of barbeque chicken, fried chicken tenders, fried shrimp, grilled shrimp and Memphis BBQ pulled pork. They offer a selection of sauces like: Original, Carolina Honeys, Blue Ridge Smokies, and their own Red Hots.

Their other entree choices include such items as: New York Strips, Sirloins and Rib Eyes, Grilled Mahi Mahi (10 ounce grilled fillet,topped with scampi butter, Roma tomato pesto salad, with rice, toasted garlic seared green beans), Southwestern Chicken (marinated chicken breasts, original bbq sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, chives with Ranch style beans and rice) and Barbequed Half Chicken.

To complete the meal, Roma’s offers specialty martinis and cocktails, beers, and wines. (Alternate listings, spellings: Tony Romas, Tony Roma’s Rib Restaurant, Tony Roma’s Barbeque Restaurant, Tony Roma’s BBQ)

Tantra Lounge

ftzo — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:18:21 +0000

Tantra Lounge is located next to Il Pasticcio, near the corner of Bull and Broughton Streets a few blocks from River Street in the historic district. It is located in a modern building with huge plate glass windows. The atmosphere here is open, cool and modern with leather sofas and suspended paper lanterns. The food here is Vietnamese and Thai served Tapas or “small plates” style

Tantra also offers a good selection of wines and cocktails and features live music. (Alternate listings, spellings: Tantra Asian Tapas, Tantra Restaurant)

For more resources and reviews of Tantra see:

Savannah Morning News, Savannahnow.com Article on Tantra

Wine in Savannah and at Tantra: Savannah Magazine

Cima Star of SavannahBest.com Reviews Tantra