TRAVEL|TRAVEL FOOD
A Taste of Savannah
Favorite Places to Eat When Visiting Savannah
My draw to Savannah has always been because of its history and claiming to be the most haunted city in America. What I didn’t expect was how quaint, artistic, and close of a community it is. As a foodie, the food here blew me away!
This spontaneous road trip exceeded what I expected Savannah, GA, to be. The drive was a measly five and a half hours, and as we drove into our hotel in the historic district, I was immediately taken aback.
The architecture maintained the integrity of the city’s historical roots with its restorations. With a blend of tourists and locals, you could still see how close of a community this has and how welcoming they are to guests in this world and beyond.
The food in Savannah went way beyond my expectations. My favorite part of staying in the historic district was the minimal amount of franchised restaurants. Savannah is all about its tight-knit community.
Here are the tastiest places to grab a bite when you visit Savannah.
1. Treylor Park
We started our first night eating at a Southern Style-New American Fusion called Treylor Park. It was a Masterpiece! Make sure you come here on an empty stomach because the portions are hefty.
The menu featured the Nachos Grande (pictured below), which was our favorite appetizer to share. I HATE pickles; if you do, I will inform you that they dice the pickles into tiny pieces.
As for dinner, we shared Chicken Pancake Tacos and Miyagi Beef Tacos. What drew me to the Chicken Pancake Tacos was the strawberry salsa; absolutely delicious! The tacos were on the sweeter side but had a hint of spice complemented by the chili aioli.
I will certainly stop by here every time I visit Savannah for the southern style comfort food and the tasty specialty cocktails.
2. A 3-Hour Dessert Tour
Yup. You read that right. You start at a restaurant/cheesecake market and sample their decadent cheesecakes. We tried German Chocolate, Carmel Machiatto, and Cookies n’ Cream. I do not like chocolate, but I loved the German Chocolate cheesecake, which we could take with us in tiny mason jars to finish in the hotel room … or the walk to the next stop.
Afterward, we strolled to the next event, learning about the city’s history, including which movies have shot scenes here.
The next stop was at Locally Made, an art store supporting local artists and swapping out different pieces every few weeks. In the back was a mom-and-pop ice cream shop. There we tried their handspun vanilla and caramel milkshake. These milkshakes are gourmet and are picture-perfect for social media posts.
Next was my absolute favorite place to go, called The Peach Cobbler Factory. Fresh Georgia peaches mixed in with a homemade cobbler, what's not to love?
I LOVE peach cobbler! This quaint store sold peach cobbler, cinnamon rolls stuffed with peach cobbler, and homemade banana pudding. 20/10 recommendation, and I will return here for some peach cobbler.
Then we walked to Hokulia Shaved Ice, which specializes in making the Hawaiian heavenly dessert called shaved ice. Similar to a snow cone, this delicacy is soft and fluffy. With over 50 flavors to choose from, I tried watermelon, tiger’s blood, and mango. This was the perfect stop on our tour as it provided a less filling yet refreshing sweet to enjoy on a hot and humid day.
The history of how this type of shaved ice came to Savannah was fascinating and gave you a glimpse of a hero in the local community back in the day.
Lastly, we ended our tour at a tiny Greek restaurant on the water in Riverwalk called Olympia Cafe. The food is amazing. The staff is friendly and courteous. This stop was for the Yia Yia’s (grandmother in Greek) 13 LAYER baklava. The 13 layers represent each grandchild she has. Baklava is a traditional Greek dessert layered in filo dough, filled with chopped nuts, and topped off with honey. This baklava was some of the best I’ve ever had, as it simply melted in your mouth with each bite.
Now, I cannot mention the two bonus spots I went to as they are shown by only one tour guide. Book this tour (3-hour dessert tour) and asked for my dude Whiskey. He will take care of you.
3. Eat at Vinnie Van Go Go’s
The best spot for pizza in town. Slices are bigger than your face. They offer dine-in seating, delivery, and a separate take-out spot on the side of the restaurant. While waiting for your pizza outside, witness true poetry in motion — the crew behind the counter tossing 14 inches and 18 inches of pizza dough up in the air and beyond. This simple, eclectic pizza joint is the best in town. The wait can be long, but I promise you it is totally worth it.
A staple in Savannah that will have me coming back for a great slice of ‘za.
4. Franklin’s
This quaint coffee shop is the perfect place to stop for a quick bite to eat and a delicious cold brew coffee. The ingredients are fresh, including their delicate and flaky croissants. I ordered a cold brew and a breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs, aged cheddar, sliced tomato, baby arugula, and pimento aioli on their house-made croissant.
5. The Ordinary Pub (Brunch)
The entrance to the Ordinary Pub can be easily missed as it is located in the old basement of Savannah’s original Sears & Roebuck building. Surrounding you in the spacious gastropub are 200-year-old brick walls, stained glass, and Edison lightbulbs. With bottomless mimosas and award-winning cuisine, you cannot go wrong with any item.
A MUST TRY menu item is the Banana Fosters French Toast appetizer made with their house-made bread pudding (insert chef kiss). This is one restaurant I will always dine at when visiting Savannah.
The most bodacious thing about Savannah is that it has a law where you can take your alcoholic beverages TO GO! An added bonus is the city of Savannah provides a FREE car ride back to your hotel or your house if you’re in the radius (unfortunately, I do not remember what that radius is).
If you have visited Savannah, GA, let me know down below a place to visit that I missed out on.
Until next time,
Shaka
