Featured Dining Information
For a dining experience worth remembering, visit Alligator Soul in Savannah Georgia, where co owners, Hilary and Maureen Craig win guests over with their love of extraordinary Southern Cuisine.
This husband and wife team moved to Savannah in April of 2001.
Christopher DiNello is now the Executive Chef, and carries on the traditions of Chef Hilary Craig. Everything is made on the premises!
Alligator Soul Restaurant
114 Barnard Street
(1/2 block South of Broughton Street)
(912) 232-7899
www.AlligatorSoul.com
Our Picks for Best Sports Venue
Fiddler’s on Hodgson Memorial Dr.
Terrific TV screens in a great bar room make this a winning venue. The food is also amazing. We recommend fried shrimp, crab cakes and buffalo chicken tenders. Get a bucket of domestic drafts bottles on special.
The Dawg House on Mall Blvd
Relocated from Eisenhower a couple of months ago, the new Dawg House is first rate. Draft beers are ice cold. We also recommend Newcastle because we like it! For the super bowl, get a pizza or try the chili. We also liked the fried green tomatoes
Coach’s Corner - Thunderbolt
The King of Savannah Sports Bars! The wings and sandwiches are rock solid, but this bar is really about the football and the beer. Lots of viewing screens and Budweiser is the top beer.
Wild Wing in City Market
The Kings of Wings! We recommend the Thai Wing, The chipotle Jolt and the Braveheart. Actually, the Braveheart is only for true madmen, but worth a try to see how it is. Great TV coverage and lots of brands of beer make this a perfect Super Bowl setting.
Local Favorites — off the beaten path...
Happy Hour Treats
Fiddler’s Crab House
located at 7201 Hodgson Memorial Dr., boasts two spacious drinking & dining areas, at least 6 HD LCD TVs, and a rooftop waterfall. Very good appetizer specials accompany musical entertainment during happy hour. (912) 351-2274
Big Beer Mondays at Jalapenos
Check out the Sandfly location at 7405 Skidaway Rd for zesty 2 for 1 Margaritas and cheap beer during happy hour.
Cozy bar and very friendly wait staff. (912) 356-1800
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 MartinLively 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)
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 view Hill of Beans complete menu, Click Here.
Sakura Japanese Restaurant: Bring on the Sushi!
Jane MartinThe 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.
Dubberly's Seafood
Linda Whiddon214 Vernonburg Avenue
Savannah GA 31419
(912) 925-6433
www.SweetSavannahShrimp.com
Dubberly's Seafood has been in business locally over 30 years. Three generations harvest, package, and sell fresh and fresh-frozen, wild-caught shrimp. Dubberly's Seafood is a certified Wild Georgia Shrimp facility, and only sell shrimp that meet high quality standards.
Corleone’s Trattoria
By Jane MartinLocated 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)
New Business
Tortuga's Island Grille is now open!
Located on scenic River Drive in Thunderbolt, they are serving breakfast and lunch with a full menu, including a fine selection of domestic and imported beers. Visit them at 2815 River Drive.
For additional information, call Craig or Anne Vaseiares
(912) 201-3631.
Recently Moved
New South Pub and Catering
175 Bourne Avenue
Pooler, GA 31322
912-748-8888 x113
www.thenewsouthcafe.com
The New South Cafe, previously on Skidaway Road, has moved.
The pub is now located inside the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum,
but museum admission is not required to dine in the pub.