Savannah is known for many things, but the dining scene deserves more recognition. With farm-to-table concepts, elevated low-country cuisine, and Australian-owned hotspots, Savannah has a diverse culinary scene with James Beard Award-Winning chefs and kitchens using recipes passed down from generations of grandmothers. From Asian fusion to traditional Southern comfort food, there’s something for everyone, no matter how adventurous (or not) they are dining out. We wish we had more time to dig into Savannah’s culinary scene, but until then, here is a short list of our top places to eat in Savannah. Visit us on Instagram to share your favorite restaurant in the coastal city.

Collin’s Quarter at Forsyth

Owned by a Melbourne native, Collins Quarter offers classic Aussie hospitality at two locations: the cafe in Forsyth Park and a bar in Downtown Savannah. Modeled after Melbourne’s famous cafe culture, the Forsyth Park restaurant is known for a classic Australian “brekkie” with a selection of toasts, eggs, and sammies, along with a varied beverage menu, including famous cocktails and signature coffees. The Sweet Taro Latte, made with espresso, vanilla, and taro powder, was a pleasant change from our usual cappuccino order with just a hint of sweetness. Once the caffeine hits, don’t sleep on the cocktails, particularly the mimosas. The Strawberry Fields was refreshing without being too sweet.

Take breakfast, brunch, or lunch inside or outside. Collin’s Quarter has a large patio with great views of Forsyth Park, but the indoor space is also bright and airy. This popular spot does not accept reservations and can get busy fast. Get there early for the best chance at finding a table quickly. While the Avocado Toast was tempting, we opted for the Seasonal French Toast topped with a medley of berries, berry compote, lemon curd, and white chocolate with a side of bacon. It came served with warm maple syrup but the loaded toppings were perfect as is. The Chicken & Waffles were also spectacular. One of the restaurant’s signature dishes, it’s made with tempura fried chicken, a Belgian waffle, buffalo syrup, and mixed berries. The tempura fried chicken makes this dish stand out. Instead of a traditional approach using classic fried chicken, which can be heavy and overpowering, this lighter twist doesn’t skimp on flavor or texture. The buffalo syrup adds a hint of heat to balance the sweetness of the waffle, and the berries offer a fresh element that brightens everything and brings it all together. If we had to choose one spot as our favorite dining experience in Savannah, Collins Quarter is a strong contender.

Common Thread

Located in an old mansion, Common Thread offers elevated low-country cuisine from Chef Brandon Carter. Prioritizing locally sourced produce and ingredients, each dish highlights seasonal flavors for an authentic farm-to-table experience. Food is sourced from small farmers, fishermen, and artisan businesses to provide a culinary experience of the highest quality. The restaurant is located in the old Krouskoff house, built in 1897 on what used to be known as Millionaire’s Row. The mansion avoided the fate many others faced of being turned into apartments and eventually became overgrown before a couple purchased the home to serve as an antique business. In 2018, it was renovated to serve as a restaurant, and Common Thread opened. The space still feels like you’re dining in someone’s home, with rooms offering a light-filled, spacious setting and enough elegance to feel comfortable yet not pretentious.

The menu changes seasonally and as ingredients are available but centers around low country cuisine - a seafood-heavy style of food with roots in South Carolina and Georgia’s coastal region. A few dishes you might see include Flounder Crudo with mole blanco and a brown butter benne, Apple Salad with romesco, yuzu, manchego, radish, savory granola, and hot honey, Merguez Sausage with field pea, butter bean, mustard, apple, and olive, and Cheesecake for a sweet finish. Vegetarian options include Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti and a Beet + Turnabaga Farro with pepita, sunflower, sumac, and Parmesan. There’s a curated selection of house cocktails and zero-proof drinks, beer, cider, and wine to complement each meal.

Dottie’s Market

Located on the bustling Broughton Street in Downtown Savannah, Dottie’s Market is a warm and welcoming traditional cafe serving brunch, lunch, and dinner. It’s the perfect escape from the busy downtown streets with a spacious, bright space that smells deliciously of coffee and baked goods. Owned by husband and wife duo Erika Phillips and Chris Meenan, Dottie’s celebrates the rich culture and tradition of the low country honoring past generations, especially Dottie - Erika’s great-grandmother. Many recipes at Dottie’s are inspired by or were passed down from grandmothers, like Dottie, for an experience that feeds the soul as much as the body.

Try the Hash Brown Sandwich with breakfast sausage, fried egg, English muffin, pepper relish, American cheese, or Zach’s Hot Chicken Biscuit with grits, greens, and spicy chile garlic sauce. Sandwiches, bowls, and salads make up a hearty lunch menu. The Figgy Piggy is the perfect combination of sweet and savory with city ham, fig jam, brie, and apple honey mustard, and the Smoked Short Rib & Rice with crispy poached egg, veal jus, and broccolini is a satisfying, stick-to-you-rib meal that’ll have you coming back for more. For dinner, kick things off with Johnny Cakes, a staple comfort food served with veal jus, pimento cheese, and pancetta. Dig into the Smoked Brisket Burger or BBQ Spare Ribs for a full Southern culinary experience. Along with the fabulous menu, Dottie’s has a market with grab-and-go options, coffee, dessert, and gifts. Shop local, support local!

Late Air

A neighborhood restaurant and wine bar, Late Air serves a rotating list of natural wines. The restaurant is perfect for a pre-or post-dinner glass of wine but has a delicious a la carte menu for those looking to settle in a while. An intimate space near the train tracks at Bull and Victory, Late Air carries a competitive selection of wine with bottles from the new and old world, along with Amari, fortified wines, and sake. A small menu includes delicious pairable bites including Beef Tartare with porcini, lotus root, and nori, Jamon Serrano with guindilla peppers, and Chocolate Chess Pie with coffee mousse and red lime. Moody lighting sets the ambiance at Late Air, a perfect spot to gather with friends, catch up one-on-one with great conversation, a date night, or if you’re looking for a glass of red at the bar alone after a long day.

Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room

For true Southern comfort food in a unique historical setting, Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room is exactly what you want. Mrs. Wilke’s was originally a boarding house run by Selma Wilkes. She became known for offering a comfortable place to stay and serving home-style cooking with local ingredients in the dining room, family-style. No one is a stranger at Mrs. Wilke’s. That Southern hospitality continues today at Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room with customers waiting daily for lunch service at 11 am. Tables of ten are filled with friends and strangers as they enjoy platters of Southern comfort food like Fried Chicken, Okra Gumbo, Black-Eyed Peas, Meat Loaf, and more. The menu changes daily so customers can return for a different experience every time.

Shuk

Shuk is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant in the Victoria District with a full bar, espresso cafe, and patio. Bright and welcoming, Shuk is a full-day experience, starting with pastries and espresso and ending with cocktails and shawarma. Featured as one of Savannah’s “Best Of” in 2024 by Savannah Magazine, plates are meant to be shared from dips and mezze to fresh salads, vibrant bowls with various proteins, sandwiches, and more. Each dish is thoughtfully created for a presentation that’s almost too beautiful to eat. The menu is full of gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options, making it ideal for accommodating any diet or food restrictions.

The Whipped Feta with crushed pistachios and pomegranate honey is addictive and satisfying, with a creamy texture perfectly peppered with crunchy pistachios and served with fresh veggies and warm pita for dipping. The Kibbutz Harvest Salad features corn schnitzel with corn & carrot slaw, walnuts, and mixed greens, served with sumac vinaigrette and green tahina. Packed with flavor, the corn schnitzel was the true star, with a perfect combination of crunchy, salty, and sweet. The Lamb Kebab served in a bowl topped with hummus, pickled cabbage, and Israeli salad was phenomenal. Perfectly cooked, the lamb was tender and deliciously spiced and topped with a spicy Schug. All three plates were plenty to feed two people, with a bit left over for snacking later. Savor your favorite espresso beverage or sip on one of the delicious cocktails. The Biri Biri - a blackberry sage organic gin bramble - is particularly delicious with a tart and fruity profile balanced by the gin’s botanicals.

The Grey

Located in Savannah’s Historic Downtown District, The Grey is owned by James Beard Award-Winning Chef Mashma Bailey. Known as the restaurant located in a renovated Greyhound Bus Station, The Grey provides an elevated food and wine experience with unparalleled hospitality. Bailey utilizes regional produce, seafood, and meats for a soulful, seasonal menu featuring dishes layered in complex flavors. The Grey offers a 3-course prix fixe menu with a rotating selection of pantry, starters, and mains. Because the kitchen is structured around seasonal ingredients found in the surrounding region, the menu changes not just seasonally but every evening for a true farm-to-table experience. Brunch on weekends offers an a la carte menu featuring items like Biscuits & Gravy, Duck Pastrami, and Fried Chicken & Hoe Cakes.

The Grey’s beverage program stands out just as much as the cuisine. Choose from craft cocktails like the D’orsay with cognac, kiwi, and egg white, or Lisa with sweet vermouth, Swiss Aperitif, and cherry. Vintage cocktails are also a unique option or enjoy a carefully curated European wine selection. Reservations are necessary for The Grey as space is limited, and Bailey’s menu is in high demand (as it should be!). No reservations? Don’t fret. Get to the bar right when the restaurant opens for a chance to experience a cocktail or glass of wine. The space itself is an incredible design that everyone should experience. Each element of the former bus station was incorporated into the restaurant, something you don’t get to see every day.

The Vault

Located in a renovated local bank building, The Vault Kitchen & Market is an industrial-style Asian fusion restaurant from Savannah’s Rhino Hospitality Group. To preserve the space that served the community for over fifty years, The Vault intends to continue that service as a gathering space for groups large and small centered around great food. The restaurant has several different spaces, with large windows to let in plenty of natural light. Details such as a vault door honor the building’s history for a unique touch, and banquette seating looking into the kitchen allows guests to get up close and personal with the culinary team.

The menu features a range of familiar and unique dishes to choose from. Start with favorites like the Vegetarian Spring Rolls served with a sweet mango and pineapple chili sauce or Spicy Tuna Tartare made with spicy tuna, cubed avocado, scallion, masago, sesame seed, spicy mayo, and crispy crab. Deliciously fresh with mouthwatering savory flavors, it’s the ideal start to the meal. Continue with dumplings, a selection of sushi rolls and nigiri or sashimi, tacos – we strongly recommend the Deposit Box Duck with BBQ duck, lettuce, pickled carrots & daikon, chipotle sauce, sesame seeds, and cilantro - or your choice of main course. The Chicken Claypot ranks as one of our top eats of 2024. With chicken, fresh herbs, curry Thai chili, ginger, Thai green eggplants, and rice, the dish is served in a clay pot and is one of the most comforting, flavorful dishes we’ve experienced. Satisfying yet somehow still light, we could have taken gallons of this home with us.

To finish an already perfect dining experience, the Tuxedo Cake knocks it out of the park with fresh whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle. Enjoyed with a nice tannin-heavy glass of red wine, it doesn’t get better. The Vault additionally has an extensive beverage program with a substantial list of beer, wine, sake, and cocktails. Enjoy one of the signature recipes like the Saigon Sling with gin, ginger, honey, passion fruit, and lime juice, or try one of the seasonal cocktails like The Bookworm with Earl Grey infused Fords Gin, fresh lemon, and lavender honey. They also have several spirit-free mocktails like the Main Squeeze with grapefruit, honey, cinnamon, and mint.

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