My favorite part of traveling? FOOD, definitely food.
I recently traveled to Savannah, Georgia for Origami Owl’s annual national convention. It was my first time in this gem of a southern city and man did I love it! Savannah is rich with history, which made this history major’s heart happy. It is also rich in southern cuisine; a real treat for this northern who loves sweet tea. My mom and I spent a ridiculous amount of time scrolling through Google Maps and random blog posts to find the best places to eat. Here is the definitive list of where we ate in Savannah, Georgia:
Breakfast
1. Mirabelle
This little cafe was one of the best meals we had on this trip. And it came with one of the best views.
Located across from the Cathedral, this adorable little coffee shop serves coffee, lattes, pastries, and gourmet waffles. We had a hard choosing off their little menu. Everything looked so good! In the end we went with the Lemon Zinger Waffle and a Savory Bacon Croissant. I highly recommend both. We split each item, which gave us a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Breakfast isn’t anything without coffee, but on this day we went fancy and each ordered a specialty latte. Both were delightful and I’m sure their seasonal specialty drinks are always spot on.
Located on Abercorn Street, across from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Learn more at http://www.mirabellesavannah.com/
2. Huey’s
Huey’s on the River features New Orleans inspired dishes in a historic cotton warehouse. We went for brunch and we were pleasantly surprised with a quiet, laid back atmosphere. Our food came quick and our view was perfect for people watching. We had to try the beignets. We’ve loved this puffy pastry since we first tried it in Disney World, and now we can’t say “no” when we see them on a menu. Choosing our main dish was more difficult. While there are unique options on the menu, we went for the classic eggs benedict and breakfast potatoes. Let me tell you, these breakfast potatoes are GREAT. Order whatever you want off the menu, but be sure it comes with a side of these potatoes.
Located on River Street, next to Bernie’s Oyster House
For more information: http://hueysontheriver.net/
Lunch
1. Olympia Cafe
You know when you first arrive in a new place and you have no idea what’s going on or how the place works and you’re just stumbling around trying to figure it all out? That was us on our first day in Savannah. We asked the doorman at our hotel “how do you get to the convention center?” and he kindly gave us slightly confusing directions that led us down to River Street. We stumbled our way down to the ferry. Not really understanding how the system worked, we stared at the river for a moment before realizing we were really hungry. I turned around, looked down River Street, and directly behind me was a sign that read “GYROS.” I grabbed Mom by the arm and practically drug her into this little cafe called “Olympia.”
We ordered a gyro with fries and a slice of baklava to go, carried it onto the ferry and had ourselves a little picnic lunch outside the convention center. The gryo hit the spot and the baklava was delicious. I highly recommend this little Greek cafe on River Street. It was quite the happy accident for us.
Located on River Street, directly across from the City Hall Belle’s Ferry Dock
Learn more at http://olympiacafe.net/
2. Stoner’s Pizza
Honestly, some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. You know what has never occurred to me before? Banana peppers on pizza. You know what was on the menu at Stoner’s? Banana peppers on pizza. This supreme pizza was out of this world, a perfect blend of so many different flavors and it was all adequately supported on a perfectly think, slightly sweet crust. This amazing crust was also used to create the innovative Pep-n-rollie seen below. I could have eaten a dozen of these by myself!
Located at… well I don’t know, we UberEats-ed this to the convention center.
To see the full menu click here https://www.stonerspizzamidtown.com/r/22/restaurants/delivery/Pizza/Stoners-Midtown-Savannah
3. Bojangles
Now I know for some, this fast food joint probably wouldn’t make the “must eat” list. But, we are northerners who don’t often get fine southern cuisine. We very much enjoyed our classic Bojangles meals, conveniently ordered from a Bojangles food truck outside the convention center. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that the next week when we were in the Great Smoky Mountains with our family, we sought out a Bojangles, so they could try the crispy chicken too. From the fried chicken to the sweet tea, this classic southern meal will have you feeling like a local.
Dinner
1. Treylor Park
Okay… YUM… that’s all I have to say about this place. This fun little bar/restaurant had the most interesting menu in all of Savannah. Nothing on the menu was “traditional” in any way. Everything was unique, but prepared with delicious quality ingredients. We went with the Treylor Park Nachos Grande (sub waffle fries for chips and ranch dressing for cheese and you have yourself some Treylor Park nachos!) and the Chicken and Pancake Tacos (their take on chicken and biscuits, but garnished with a strawberry salsa). The food here was so good, we came back a second night to try their dessert.
Located on East Bay Street, across from the Old City Exchange Bell.
Learn more at https://www.treylorpark.com/savannah/menu
2. The Olde Pink House
The quintessential Savannah Experience. Upscale southern food? Fancy mixed drinks? A restored historic house? Check, check, and check. Though it is a little expensive, know that when you eat here you are getting an experience. While each room of the house is exquisite, we were fortunate to dine in the master bedroom. Our dining experience was intimate and quiet and quaint. Now the menu, it is anything but quaint. I wish I could have eaten here every night of my trip. There were so many things I wanted to try and such a variety! In the end, we went for the Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast and Sweet Potato Ravioli with blackened shrimp. Both were marvelous and left us wanting to try more.
Located on Reynolds Square
Learn more at https://www.theoldepinkhouserestaurant.com/
3. Belford’s
We sat down at Belford’s for happy hour drinks and apps and ended up turning our experience into an early dinner. We had an exceptional experience here; the waitstaff was friendly and engaging, the food was superb, and the drinks hit the spot. I ordered Moon River’s Wild Wacky Wit. Mom opted for the Dixie Lemonade, a cucumber vodka lemonade (it was light and refreshing- a perfect summer afternoon beverage). For dinner we got Crab Meat Mac and Cheese, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Chicken and Waffle Sliders. Each item was heavenly. And those sliders were to die for– the perfect blend of savory and sweet. Speaking of sweet, to top off our happy hour dinner, we ordered the Peach Cobbler. When in Georgia, right?
Located on the Southwest corner of the City Market.
Learn more at http://www.belfordssavannah.com/
Snacks
1. Leopold’s Ice Cream
Leopold’s. That’s all I have to say. Every blog you read, every person you talk to will say Leopold’s is a must in Savannah. The line here is always out the door. I mean always. Our hotel was only a block away from Leopold’s and I don’t think there was a single time that I didn’t see people lined up on the sidewalk. We waited until we spotted a relatively short line before committing. I must say, the ice cream was very good. I got a dairy free option that I thought was delectable. I so enjoyed this ice cream, that I treated myself to a second cup while at the airport.
Located on E Broughton Street between Reynolds Square and Oglethorpe Square.
See all the flavor offerings at https://www.leopoldsicecream.com/
2. The Pirates’ House
The Pirates’ House is actually a full service restaurant and bar, but I am categorizing it under snacks because that is how we dined here. We stopped by this historical joint in the mid afternoon, cozied up to the bar, and ordered ourselves a glass of sweet tea and a plate of fried green tomatoes. This was my first ever fried green tomato, and I must say… I kinda liked it. Honestly, not my favorite dish of the trip, but these fried delicacies were served with an interesting Pimento Cheese that I thoroughly enjoyed. The Pirates’ House is a great stop for history lovers (like myself), as it is one of the oldest buildings in Savannah. I think I would like to try this place again, but in the dining room. The waitstaff was all dressed as pirates and it looked like they were having a good time.
Located on E Broad Street, near Washington Square.
For more information, visit https://thepirateshouse.com
3. Pralines
Savannah is known for their “World Famous Pralines.” As you walk down River Street you will periodically get a whiff of sweet, sugary, deliciousness. Scattered down by the river are a sampling of different sweet shops that each make these heavenly treats. We bought our two pounds of Pralines from River Street Sweets, but I’m sure each candy store tastes just as good as the other. We bought our pralines on the last day of our trip so 1. we weren’t tempted to eat them all in the hotel room and 2. so they would be the freshest possible for our family. The pralines get packaged in a nice little box and they traveled perfectly. They make a wonderful souvenir for the folks at home.
And just like our pralines, we were headed home after a week in Savannah. We left with full bellies and a hunger for more of the city. This little city is filled to the brim with Southern charm and I’d say it makes it in my book as a little charm of American travel.
Do you have a story about some good food you ate on vacation? Want to tell that story in a locket? Shop for your food inspired charms at https://hannahmyers.origamiowl.com/shop/categories/charms
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