Savannah, GA: Top 5 Foodie Stops

After eight hours in an office that feels like the inside of an ice cube, I’m daydreaming about being on a beach with a good book and an adult beverage. After all, it's August in South Carolina...I shouldn't be this cold! Where is my triple digit heat and humidity?!

Since the closest beach is over three hours away, I’m blogging about my favorite city by the sea -- Savannah, Georgia -- to take my mind off of my icy toes. Savannah’s food scene is growing by leaps and bounds. Every trip, I find a new restaurant or specialty shop to try out. Very seldom am I disappointed in my finds. So, today, I give you five of my favorite places to eat in Savannah (and the surrounding areas). These are in no particular order because I can’t play favorites.

Lazaretto Creek, between Savannah and Tybee Island

1. Café GelatOhh. Most travel guides will tell you that Leopold’s has the best ice cream in Savannah, and I’m not going to argue that point. But if you want gelato, stop by Café GelatOhhh in City Market. Rumor has it they also serve salads and sandwiches. I know nothing of those. Gelato is my only reason for visiting multiple times on a single trip to Savannah. ($)
2. The Salt Table. It’s a one-stop shop for salts, spices, sugars and other seasonings. The Tuscan Bread Dipping Oil Seasoning Mix goes great with a loaf of bread and a cheese plate. The Black Truffle Sea Salt is great with everything! The staff is great and extremely helpful. They can make recommendations based on your preferences and provide samples as you browse the shelves. ($$)
3. The Crab Shack. Fair warning: There are live alligators out front, exotic birds in the gift shop and a cat colony...well, they’re everywhere. The food is consistently great, and the view from the deck is unbeatable. Be sure to take your bug spray to ward off the no-see-ums. But if you do have a run-in with the evil little sand gnats, immediately coat the bites in Chiggerx and avoid the misery of thousands of itching bumps. (Seriously…this is the best $8 I’ve ever spent in Savannah!) ($$)
4. North Beach Grill on Tybee Island. Sure, you can go to The Crab Shack, and I guarantee a great meal. North Beach Grill, located between the Tybee lighthouse and the ocean, features local, sustainable seafood with a touch of Carribbean goodness. Just follow the sounds of Bob Marley. Grab a beer and a huge plate of jerk chicken, fish tacos and crab cakes. You won’t be sorry. ($)
5.  Ampersand. This is a ridiculously trendy gastropub, and I’m not usually a fan of overly trendy anything. I loved it. The food was excellent –the Pernil (Puerto Rican-style roast pork over Gouda grits) was to die for. The guys loved the craft beer selection, but I (really, really) enjoyed the Elder Patrick (tequila, melon liqueur, lime juice and mint) and Popcorn Sutton’s Apple Pie Moonshine. ($$$...add as many $ as you need to cover your drinks) 

The only thing between the ocean and North Beach Grill

You may notice that Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons is missing from the list. I’ve been there, and the food was good. However, growing up in the South, The Lady and Sons was not a great adventure for me. It’s more like an overpriced, overcrowded Sunday dinner at Grandma’s house.

While we’re on the subject of Paula, you may have heard of her brother’s restaurant Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House closed a few months ago under questionable circumstances. Bubba’s chargrilled oysters were AMAZING. Luckily, if you have his cookbook (or Google), you can make your own at home. Just buy an extra dozen or so. You’ll need them.

Coming up in my Savannah Series: Sightseeing for Lazy People, Even More Foodie Stops, and The Best of The Best in Savannah. Look for it soon!