Savannah Restaurants

Savannah has a well-earned reputation for excellent seafood restaurants, easily rivaling those in Atlanta. However, there are also a number of places that serve up true-to-heart Southern cooking, like Elizabeth of 37th, which is ranked among the finest Southern restaurants in the entire South. The best dining is found in the Historic District along River Street, but dont overlook the seafood potential on nearby Tybee Island and the other offshore islands. If youre feeling casual, remember that most bars in Savannah serve meals as well as drinks, and many offer food late into the night.

Local cuisine

Savannahs restaurants reflect its role as an old coastal Southern town with plenty of traditional Southern cuisine and fresh seafood. Local seafood specialties centre around crab stew, crab cakes, oysters and shrimp. A traditional low country boil, common on most menus, involves boiled shrimp or crawfish with smoked sausage, corn on the cob and potatoes. Now thats a local meal. Other classics include collard greens, fried okra, fried chicken, corn bread and biscuits. Gumbo, the quintessential southern stew, also appears in nearly every restaurant, so youll have plenty to choose from which you cant find anywhere else in the country. Just dont expect to lose any weight during your visit.

Pecans, which are grown in Georgia, find their way into many dishes, especially desserts. Dont pass by the chance to try a slice of southern pecan pie. Also, remember that iced tea in the South means sweet tea with plenty of sugar. Its a specialty down here, but if you dont like your tea sweet then make that clear to your server.

Where to eat

Savannah has some of the finest Southern restaurants in the country. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is legendary for real Southern cooking, and if you want something a bit finer, try Elizabeth on 37th. The Historic District, along River Street, is the centre of culinary excellence. Like any coastal town, most restaurants offer pleasant views of the water, but its the variety of the waterfront that makes Savannah so special. The Savannah River is a hive of activity with ships both big and small passing by the restaurants on River Street. Tybee Island has places with views of the expansive salt marshes and the meandering rivers that weave through them. One final treat is that Savannah restaurants can sell alcoholic drinks in plastic cups which guests can take away with them; a rarity in the hypercontrolled police state of America.