"Dining is and always was a great artistic opportunity."
--Frank Lloyd Wright
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--Dining in Historic Downtown--
Restaurants
flourish in coastal Savannah, a city that uniquely balances tradition and
history with emerging currents of industry and art. As such, downtown Savannah is home to a variety of unique and traditional restaurants—old, new, down-home,
and everything in between.
Walking
through the Historic District is a fun way to explore many of the new cafes and
architecturally impressive dining venues the area has to offer.
Environmentalists and preservationists will also appreciate the conscientious
“recycling” of historic homes and buildings once threatened by demolition and
economic downturns. Antebellum mansions double as Bed & Breakfasts.
Renovated cotton warehouses operate as restaurants, many of which claim to be
haunted. Dine at 17 Hundred 90, and
perhaps the legendary ghost of Anna Powers will join you. The home’s cozy
lounge is also a cool place to dine or enjoy a cocktail with locals. Even an
antique fire station is put to use at Garibaldi’s
Escape. The “Crispy
Flounder” remains on the menu for good reason. Elizabeth’s on 37th Street
endures as one of the loveliest fine dining establishments in the Victorian
district. Of course, some may want to explore The Mansion on Forsyth;
stunningly renovated, 700 Drayton
Restaurant juxtaposes nouvelle American dining with colorful and expressive
art. The grandeur extends throughout this updated mansion, where luxury is
newly defined for this increasingly popular area.
Many downtown
Savannah restaurants enjoy national fame for regional delicacies. By now
almost everyone raves about Paula Deen and her home-style southern restaurant, The Lady & Sons.
The $12.99 lunch buffet is understandably popular among tourists. Be
forewarned: Friends of Butter form a line outside the restaurant daily, so you
may want to bring along your Soduko! Paula’s
fried chicken and crab cakes are definitely well-known, but the crab-cake
competition never ends in Savannah. New
South Café chefs, Matt Cohen and Scott Gordon, currently prepare a
mouthwatering crab burger with Asiago cheese sauce. (click on New South button
for full review) Similarly, Soho South Café’s
crab cake sandwich is the real deal: seasoned crab as opposed to seasoned
breading.
River
Street, a colorful expanse of boutiques, galleries, and souvenir curiosities,
also boasts a full array of eateries. Seafood restaurants are a mainstay on
the waterfront, naturally, and most display an outdoor menu board featuring
daily specials and dining hours. Choose from an abundance of spirited taverns,
gourmet bistros, oyster bars, and continental cafes. If you enjoy authentic
Greek cuisine, stroll in to Olympia Café
for savory gyros and salads. This charming little café is still a Savannah lunchtime favorite. For those who enjoy festive dining, Kevin Berry’s Irish
Pub serves good pub grub and live Irish music on weekends. Similarly, Spanky’s Pizza Galley & Saloon is also a
fun place to watch a football game or share some pizza. Their chicken finger
basket, served with signature ‘”spuds,” continues its local tradition at three
great locations (check our listings).
Tradition
in the midst of change is important. Sometimes a restaurant captures the
zeitgeist of an age and, even as new traditions emerge, continues to thrive for
multiple generations. One good example is Johnny Harris Restaurant on Victory
Dr. My grandparents could tell you about romantic date nights in the ballroom
(nothing casual about it); my parents could elaborate about the lamb and
succulent prime rib; and my friends, to this day, rave about the 1924 House
Salad. And I have never, ever been disappointed with the hickory smoked
chicken, topped with warmed Johnny Harris sauce. Neither do I tire of dining
in the relaxed bar area because it has serious retro filmic appeal. I should
check their “wall of fame” again to see if Sammy Davis Junior sipped martinis
with Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra here. Johnny Harris’s charm is unmistakably Savannah. And, yes, there’s fried chicken too!
Historic Savannah is home to so many fabulous restaurants. Whether you choose a trendy café, a renovated
mansion, or a Mom and Pops diner depends, of course, on circumstance and
taste. SavannahCityDirectory has a soft spot for the art of dining, and we
hope you will bookmark our dining page for new restaurant listings, reviews,
and further exploration into Southside and Midtown dining.
Driftaway Café: A Culinary Treasure in Sandfly
By David Norman
If you can’t afford to lose yourself in paradise on a tropical island, or even if you can, you might want to drop into the little bit of paradise that’s available right here in Sandfly at Driftaway Café. Located at 7400 Skidaway Road, Driftaway offers creative combinations of the best fresh ingredients and does so in a friendly, relaxed environment that lives up to the café’s theme of stress-free, tropical escapism. There’s an outdoor deck with regular live entertainment in the evenings, and inside is a cozy bar and an enclosed sun room overlooking a beautiful, soothing brook.
Open since 2001, the café is owned and operated by husband and wife team Robyn and Michele Quattlebaum, who hoped to provide locals with a place that would serve great food in a casual atmosphere. And they definitely have succeeded.
The appeal of the restaurant stems in part from its unusual decorations. Patrons in the main dining area are greeted by Atlanta artist Richard MacGregor’s impressive renditions of local scenery from Green Island Sound and Lazeretto Creek. And Savannah’s Kelley J. Boyd has contributed a touch of whimsy with a delightful three-dimensional great white shark mural that is guaranteed to be the topic of dinner conversation for any newcomer. Artistic renderings of seascapes, boats, and a lighthouse, and trophy mountings of swordfish and other marine life make the experience of eating at Driftaway more than simply a culinary pleasure.
And a culinary pleasure it is. Our group began with the Driftaway Blue Chips appetizer, which consisted of homemade potato chips with a melted blue cheese topping, diced onions and red peppers, and a dollop of sour cream. Once you’ve had freshly prepared potato chips, the store-bought variety seem hardly worth the bother. For the main course, I had the Parmesan Crab Grouper Fillet, which was fresh and flaky, sautéed and capped off with a citrus butter sauce. The combination of the crab, grouper, and parmesan destined this dish to be one of my favorites. My friends chose the Driftaway Seafood Combo (flash-fried shrimp, oysters, and optional crab cake fillet) and the Sandfly Fish & Chips (fish fingers flash-fried in Killian’s beer and served with steak fries and slaw). Both dishes were deeply satisfying, as they told me again and again. The server was friendly and efficient, and our only disappointment was that we arrived too late on a Sunday evening to try the homemade cheddar biscuits, the supply having been depleted by the lucky, more punctual customers finishing up their meals.
The Driftaway is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 until 2 and for dinner from 2 until 10 (open until 11 p.m. on Friday). On the weekends, the lunch menu is available from 10 until 2 and dinner is available from 2 until 11 p.m. on Saturday and 2 until 9 p.m. on Sunday. Lunch costs between ten and twenty dollars, and supper between twenty and thirty, not including wine.
For menus, directions, photos, or a virtual tour, visit the restaurant’s website at DriftawayCafe.com , or for other information, call 912-303-0999. My advice: driftaway at Driftaway Café as soon as you can.
Chiriya’s thai cuisine
by Jane Martin
Walking into Chiriya’s feels much like entering a movie theatre from its emergency exit. Located between Chili’s and Masato in Southside’s Chatham Plaza (7805 Abercorn St.), Chiriya’s is the perfect getaway restaurant for just about any crowd. One moment we are standing in a sprawling parking lot, and the next we are seated in an exotic land far away from suburbia. Within seconds, waves of relaxation and comfort wash over. To my left, brightly colored fish light up their tranquil water; to my right, Buddha sits poised above a corner booth.
Lively and cheerful, Chiriya emerges from her kitchen to meet and greet. Owner, operator, chef, decorator, caterer, hostess…you name it, she will do it. Asked to pronounce the restaurant which shares her name, she jokingly instructs, “like the cereal Cheerios…except with a ya not a yo!”
Family and cultural heritage, we learn, played a large role in developing Chiriya’s blend of taste and style. Her father is Chinese and her mother is Thai, but she also lived in Hawaii for eleven years. This explains why Tybee, she says, is one of her favorite places to visit in her free time. It reminds her of home, as do the orange and red walls dominant in Chinese temples. The blended cuisine, by her own definition, is “Thai infused with Hawaiian.” And that doesn’t just sound delicious; it is.
Chiriya enjoys conversing and laughing with her customers. Alongside her infectious playfulness, however, resides goal-oriented business acumen. A stay-at-home mom for 18 years, Chiriya transitioned into the business that enveloped her growing up. Remembering her sister’s fast food restaurant in Honolulu’s Chinatown, she notes, “I knew I wanted to move into fine dining. I wanted to be able to talk to people and spend time with them.” It’s hard to see how she manages so much. Glancing up at the Buddha she found at Tuesday Morning, Chiriya notes, “It relaxes me. I look at it all the time.”
Taking suggestions from both our waitress and Chiriya, we ordered several appetizers, Spring Rolls and Mussels in Green Curry Broth. The spring rolls, prepared with noodles, pork, shrimp, black mushrooms, and carrots are served with a pineapple vinaigrette dipping sauce. These contrasts—or harmonies—of taste and texture are at the heart of Chiriya’s cuisine. (Hot/Cold…Sweet/Spicy…Crunchy/Tender…) I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed the mussels. The broth is so flavorful you’ll want to drink it after the mussels are gone. It is doubtful we left anything on our plates; even the orchids disappeared.
For our entrees, we selected Chiriya’s Curry Delight and Fresh Pineapple Curry. The dishes are presented elegantly, with colorful sauces ladled artistically against white plate canvases. While the menu is divided into three major categories of Curries, Thai Entrees and Hawaiian Style Entrees, customers may choose the level of spiciness they desire. Mild, Medium or Hot is a standard choice for each entrée. The Curry Delight is, as Chiriya notes, “a gourmet delight.” With vegetables and tofu swimming in sauce, there is no need to add anything else, but there are many ways to mix the flavors should you enjoy seafood, pork, chicken, or beef. (see full menu at dining page) Obviously, vegetarians won’t have any difficulty choosing a meal.
For those who enjoy pairing beer and wine with curry and pineapple, there is an extensive selection of bottled beer, sakes, and wine. An unimposing bar toward the back of the restaurant looks like a good spot when dining solo. Kona coffee and Thai Iced Coffee are also available.
While Hawaii may always be home for Chiriya, she has certainly done a terrific job transforming her Southside space into a very charming curry corner.
**Look for special events at Chiriya's. Catering is available
(Also, Chiryas is proud to offer a 10% discount to all active duty military)
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New: Hill of Beans on Southside
 There's a great new hybrid on the market for Southside shoppers. This self-proclaimed “Seattle style” coffee shop also doubles as a stylish café. Conveniently located in Oglethorpe Plaza at 7929 Abercorn Street (Next to Best Buy), Hill of Beans also has locations at Savannah Mall and Richmond Hill.
The first thing that you will notice you as you enter is the overwhelming feeling of comfort. The decor is warm and inviting. A plush sofa, relaxing arm chairs, tall modern cafe tables, a big screen TV, a large glass coffee table with lots of reading material - what a wonderful place to flop down and chill out after hours of shopping! In fact, this is a great place to be dropped off to wait while others in your party shop to the max.
 The next thing you realize is the variety of choices. As you would expect, they do serve many styles and flavors of coffee, with all of the extras as well. Unexpected, though, is that their menu also includes breakfast sandwiches, as well as a complete list of panini and pita sandwiches and soup. Happily, your choices do not end there. They also have fresh bakery goods, ice cream, and shaved ice. Yes! There is definitely something here for every member of the family.
Stop by soon and visit with Khal, the Owner, and Olivia, the Manager. They are friendly and customer service oriented, and they are doing a super job of providing a much-needed oasis of relaxation in the midst of the hectic shopping world on Southside Savannah.
Hill of Beans is open Monday-Thursday: 7-9; Friday-Saturday: 7-10; and Sunday: 10-6. For more information, you can call them at (912) 920-6323 or visit their website online at www.RichmondHillofBeans.com
To Review Hill of Beans complete menu, Click Here.
Sakura Japanese Restaurant: Bring on the Sushi!
Jane Martin
The holiday season is always an exciting time to mix, mingle, and sample new menus. And with so many fabulous restaurants lighting up the downtown area, it’s actually a thrill to come across a fun, funky alternative to upscale elegance.
Located at 116 E. Broughton (912-234-9300), Sakura’s charm recalls many of the cool diners tucked away in college towns across the country. While the SCAD influenced atmosphere retains a DIY (do it yourself) random display of brightly colored paper lanterns, there is a contagious undercurrent of collegiate cool that extends from its wait staff to its affordability.
Entering Sakura, we were immediately seated at one of the spacious booths along the wall. Our waitress, clad in vintage chic and sporting a red Mohawk hair accessory, immediately warmed our table with amusing dramatic monologues and complimentary pan-fried bread. Selections from The Velvet Underground’s Andy Warhol played quietly in the background as we examined the menu.
Fairly new to Japanese cuisine, we were advised to begin with Tempura, a classic Japanese dish of lightly battered, deep fried vegetables and/or shrimp. We located this under the appetizers and enjoyed nibbling from an enormous basket of crispy broccoli, carrots, shrimp, and mushrooms. All appetizers are $5.00 and below.
For our entrées, we split an assortment of sushi rolls, favoring the Acapulco Rolls. These contain avocado, shrimp and masago. Naturally, there is an extensive selection of these rolled favorites, all very reasonably priced. Udon noodles make a nice addition to any entrée.
World acclaimed Tiger beer is also available.
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Corleone’s Trattoria
By Jane Martin
Located at 44 MLK and Broughton, Corleone’s Trattoria is a relatively new addition to the downtown Italian food family. Formerly Cosentino’s Trattoria, Corleone’s Trattoria promises to make you a “meal” you can’t refuse.
As you approach the restaurant window, Marlon Brando’s image suddenly jumps into view. This famous apparition pays homage to Godfather Don Vito Corleone, whose indelible screen image marks the corner here and invites further attention.
Inside Corleone’s, the atmosphere is anything but touristy. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the mafia motif ends at the door. Fresh flowers on the tables, ceiling fans, and natural light streaming from large windows conjure a friendly, relaxed environment. There is also a full bar and smaller dining area available. Café tables are located outside if you wish to dine al fresco.
The lunch menu offers a solid selection of sandwiches, pastas, casseroles, burgers, soups, salads, gyros, and desserts. A signature Corleone’s pizza would be a nice addition to their traditional menu.
Our table of three ordered a gyro sandwich, a grilled salmon sandwich, and a “big fat Greek burger.” The gyro sandwich was the table favorite. Tender strips of seasoned gyro meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and Tzatziki sauce are piled high inside lightly toasted pita bread. All the sandwiches come with fries or fresh salads. We did not have room to try the homemade Tiramisu.
The service definitely deserves mention. Our waiter, Brandon Woodord, was extremely friendly and efficient. We appreciate his enthusiasm and attention to customer service.
Corleone’s Trattoria easily fulfilled its promise. We could not refuse. Costing just under ten dollars per person, the expense is reasonable for dining in the historic district. Restaurant hours are Monday-Thursday: 11:00AM-11PM, Friday-Saturday: 11AM-Midnight, and Sunday: 4PM-10PM. (Extended bar hours)
If you live or work in the downtown area, Corleone’s provides delivery service. (232-2720)
 
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The New South Café: A Unique
Blend of the South and the City
It’s not particularly remarkable that Savannah native Matt Cohen became fast friends with Philadelphia native Scott Gordon while they both were training at the Culinary Institute of America in New York City. Nor is it too surprising that the two teamed up at the New South Café, which opened on St. Patrick’s Day in 2006. Given their extensive experience in fine cuisine, including Matt’s stint at, among others, famed Maxime’s and Scott’s work at Trump Plaza, their coming together might have been predicted. But the combination of their culinary expertise and influences with their emphasis on southern cuisine does make for a restaurant that is both remarkable and surprising and, indeed, unique. I visited the café twice at lunch for this review and on both occasions was delighted by both the atmosphere and, of course, the food.
First, let me say that The New South Café is full of pleasant contrasts. On the one hand, it is truly a café, with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. There are a couple of tables outside for when the weather is agreeable (parking is on the side and in the back), and many of the customers, an eclectic group of professionals, neighborhood locals, and college students, seem to know each other, although newcomers are immediately made welcome by the friendly and helpful staff. The whitewashed pine walls are decorated with original art (digitally-altered photographs, a mural, a psychedelic portrait of Jerry Garcia) and there are ceiling fans above, all giving the restaurant a relaxed café atmosphere.
On the other hand, there is a somewhat elegant feel about the place as well, with white tablecloths and green cloth napkins, hefty tableware, exposed brickwork and overhead beams, large mirrors, and a wall-sized window facing Skidaway Road. The contrast between the elegant setting and the relaxed, friendly atmosphere is quite appealing. It’s as if your relatives are making Christmas dinner for your fiancé for the first time. Still, one thing unites it all: a great attention to detail.
On my first occasion, I ordered the crab cake burger, although I was sorely tempted to order the catfish after overhearing a seasoned customer exclaim, “the catfish fingers here are fabulous.” The crabmeat was very fresh and flavorful with a perfect texture. It came open-faced on a toasted bun with a side of Asiago cheese sauce, which delicately enhanced the crab without overpowering it. There was also an Asian salad with a ginger dressing that was a nice accompaniment and added a contrasting flavor. The sweet tea was some of the best I’ve had in Savannah, not overly sweet and with a definite taste of tea, rather than being watered down.
On my return visit, I thoroughly enjoyed the peanut-crusted boneless chicken. It comes with corn custard and a Vidalia onion ring garnish. The chicken has a honey-pecan drizzle that is indescribable, again adding a contrast to the textures and tastes of the chicken and the peanuts. Both lunches were presented elegantly on simple, square white plates.
I cannot in this short space begin to tell you of all the other tempting dishes that The New South Café offers. Let me just say that if these two dishes sound inviting, check out their menu “cause you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Aside from the delicious food available at lunch on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 until 3 and at dinner from 5 until 10 p.m., The New South Café also offers a wide variety of catering options for weddings, corporate events, charity events and just about any situation you can imagine. To top it off, their staff will travel to events in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. See their website at thenewsouthcafe.com for more information, and for menus and prices. They are located just a block north of Victory Drive at 2601 Skidaway Road. Treat yourself to some true Southern hospitality at The New South Café.
Visit The New South Cafe website at www.TheNewSouthCafe.
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Savannah Now Dining Info
