Savannah for April Fools!

I'll be in Savannah for four days in a few weeks with a group of eight online friends, all of whom know each other well.  Since we'll have 4 lunches and 4 dinners, we'd like a variety of options, and not necessarily all Southern food. 
 
The most important consideration is the quality of the food and the ability to seat 8 of us comfortably.  Extra credit for places where we won't be rushed.
 
I'll be driving from New York City, and although I won't have time to do a real roadfood trip, anyone have any ideas for a place to have dinner in the Emporia, Virginia area on the way or any other place of note on I-95 along the way?
Thanks in advance,
 
Clammy.
 

I recently visited a friend of mine in Savannah and we went to a place called Crystal Beer Parlor   They have fantastic burgers and you have to try the Crab Stew (with the side of Sherry).  Waitstaff was super friendly and I'd go back in a heartbeat when in Savannah.  Have fun
 
Tom

If you specify more of what you are looking for I can be of more help.
 
Some suggestions:
 
Fine dining choices might include Elizabeths on 37th, the restaurant at the Mansion at the Park ( which also hasa great bar) 700 Drayton, Local1110, The Olde Pink House, Garibaldis.
 
Breakfasts I would go to B. Mathews for healthier choices or to Clarys for Southern style breakfasts.
 
Good Greek food at the Olympia, good pizza and subs at Screaming Mimis.
 
Southern roadfood meets Chicago hot dog place try Tanners on Broughton Street. Or B&D burgers.
 
Also check out Sweet Potaoes
 
Besides the bar at the Mansion at the Park ( Casimirs Lounge I believe) which has good jazz as well try Venus de Milo or Molly McPhersons for a great selection fo Scotch and other beverages.
 
If you want more info feel free to PM me.
 
 

 

 

There's some updated "Where to Eat in Savannah" information here.

Here's a few joints in SC you may want to visit on your way to GA.  Get off I 95 at Exit 5 at Hardeville, SC and go S on Highway 17 which is Speedway Boulevard. Go 5.5 miles and take a left on Highway 170A which is S 27 34 and go 3.5 miles to Oakatie Highway. Take a right and go to The Pink Pig.
 
The Pink Pig @ 3508 South Okatie Highway, Hardeeville, SC 843 - 784 - 3635  
http://www.the-pink-pig.com/
 
 
 
Get off I95 at Exit 21 at Ridgeland, SC and go E on Grahamville Road to State Road S/27/13 and take a right. Take your next left and go to The Old House Smokehouse on Highway 336 or Old House Road for good steaks and seafood. Get off I 95 at Exit 21 at Ridgeland, SC and have great pulled or chopped port at BBQ Grill. They also have BBQ ribs and chicken. I think it's better than Dukes.
 
Old House Smokehouse @ Hwy. 462 @ hwy.336, Ridgeland, SC 843 - 258 - 4444   
 
BBQ Grill @ 8084 East Main St., Ridgeland, SC 843 - 645 - 4414  
Duke's BBQ @ 690 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland, SC 843 - 726 - 6244   
  
Get off I 95 at Exit 38 at Yemassee, SC and go SE on Highway 68 to Castle Hall Road to Ray's Rib King for good BBQ.
 
Ray's Rib King @ 4 Castle Hall Road, Yemassee, SC 843 - 589 - 2919   
 
Get off I 95 at Exit 57 at Walterboro, SC for good BBQ @ Duke's. Low Country is good but Duke's is best. 
 
Duke's BBQ @ 949 Robertson Blvd., Walterboro, SC 843 - 549 - 1446  
Low Country BBQ @ 635 South Jefferies Blvd., Walterboro, SC 843 - 549 - 8355

I've spent a lot of time in SAV. 
 
I also recommend Clary's and B. Matthews for breakfast/brunch/lunch.  They are very different places but both very good. 
 
Try to avoid the tourist places on River Street, there's nothing worth eating down there. 
 
There are a surprising number of good pubs in Savannah including Churchill's and Six Pence.  Moon River has decent food and is a brewpub. 
 
Finally, if you are into great dive bars with lots of local color try Pinkie Masters.

Be sure to hit Leopold's Ice Cream on Broughton Street.   Homemade since 1919.

I second Sweet Potatoes  - they have great local food at very reasonable prices. You should also check out Angel's BBQ . Not really a lot of space, but 8 people could totally squeeze in. There's outdoor seating, too - so worth it. There's also the Casbah for Moroccan food and bellydancing (several of my friends are dancers there). Enjoy!

Great Cuban food at Rancho Alegre. Just opened a new second location downtown just up from the visitors center and museum.

I agree that the food at Rancho Allegre is good. Not very Savannah like for a visitor and nothing like what one can get in Miami. The Casbah is mediocre although they may have pretty dancers. Angels BBQ is ok.

Thank you all for your responses so far.  We'll have two cars among the 8 of us, one option would be for us to drive outside of Savannah proper for a terrific meal.

No need to go outside Savannah. There is fine food in Savannah. tell us more of what you are looking for and we will help! I spent three years in savannah and know it well.

Just returned from 2 1/2 months in Savannah, and I need to file a trip report, that is, as soon as I get some suitcases unpacked and laundry done.  In short, my favorite places are Sweet Potatoes Kitchen (Eisenhower and Waters) and Green Truck off Victory.  The Green Truck features all organic food, and it lists its meat, honey and coffee suppliers on the back of the menu.  We had terrific hamburgers.  Their fries are great, but the homemade ketchup got a little getting used to.  Planter's Tavern, Under the Olde Pink House, has good food and a pleasant piano player.  I got the grouper, which was outstanding.  On another visit, I had seafood fettucini with marvelously seasoned and creamy sauce.  It was made with fresh scallops and shrimp which were cooked to perfection.

Another vote for Sweet Potatoes.  Had macadamia encrusted swai over mashed sweet potatoes. Garnished with peach salsa and grilled asparagus. They can handle your size party easily.

Here's some joints to stop and rest along I 95 going S. 
Get off I 95 at Exit 161 at Woodbridge, VA on U. S. 1 toward Woodbridge, VA. Go 1.8 miles and take a right on Occoquan Road to Dixie Bones BBQ.
Dixie Bones @ 13440 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA. 703 - 492 - 7885.
http://www.dixiebones.com/index.html
Get off I 95 at Exit 130 B at Fredericksburg, VA and go E on Highway 3 to Jefferson Davis Highway # 1. Take a left and go N to Allman's BBQ in front of Park and Shop shopping center. You will find good BBQ since 1954.
Allman's BBQ @ 1299 Jeff Davis Highway, Fredericksburg, VA 540 - 373 - 9881.
http://allmansbarbeque.com/
A few miles N of Richmond, VA get of I 95 at Exit 92 and go E on E Patrick Henry Road or Highway 54. Go 1.4 miles to N Center Street and turn right. Go .1 mile to Henry Clay Road and turn left. Then Immediately turn left on N Railroad Ave and go .1 mile to Henry Clay Inn for the night. They have fourteen rooms that run $95.00/$195.00 per night. You can walk S on Railroad to the next block for outstanding lunch or dinner at Iron Horse Restaurant.
Henry Clay Inn @ 114 North Railroad Avenue, Ashland, Virginia 804 - 798 - 3100.
http://www.henryclayinn.com/
Iron Horse Restaurant @ 100 S Railroad Avenue, Ashland, Virginia 804 - 752 - 6410.
http://www.ironhorserestaurant.com
Before you get to NC on I 95 at Exit 31 try Stony Creek Tastee Hut for good fried chicken or BBQ.

Stony Creek Tastee Hut @ 12420 Blue Star Hwy., Stony Creek, VA. 434 - 246 - 2328.
Take Exit 138 off I 95 at Rocky Mt., NC and go E on I 64 for 1 1/2 miles to Exit 466 and go S on N Winstead Ave. to Sunset Ave. Take a right and go to Gardner's BBQ. Gardner's has 3 locations in Rocky Mt., NC but this one on Sunset is the most convenient to I 95.
Gardner's Barbecue @ 3651 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 252 - 443 - 3996. I64/EXIT468A.
http://www.gardnerfoods.com/Home.html
Take Exit # 138 going S on I 95 at Nashville, NC and go W on # 64 about 6 miles to Exit # 458. Turn back E on Western Ave. less than a mile for some outstanding BBQ at Doug Saul's.
Doug Saul's BBQ @ 813 Western Ave., Nashville, NC 252 - 459 - 4247.
Get off I 95 at Exit 90 just S of Smithfield, NC to your right and turn back N on Highway 301 and go to White Swan BBQ for good road food.
White Swan BBQ @ 3198 South Brightleaf Blvd., Smithfield, NC 919 - 934 - 8913.
http://www.whiteswanbarbeque.com/
For outstanding BBQ and country fried chicken get off I 95 at Exit 79 at Benson, NC and go W on E Main Street to N Fayetteville Street which is the first street to your right. Take a right and go N to E Church Street. Take a right and go to N Honeycutt Street. White Swan will be on your left.
White Swan BBQ and Fried Chicken @ 105 N Honeycutt St, Benson, NC 919 - 894 - 4446.
http://www.whiteswanbarbeque.com/
At Exit 73 in Dunn, NC get off I 95 going W on Cumberland go about a mile take a right on General Lee and next left on Broad for some fine fried chicken at Kim's. Don't let the name bother you. They sell a BBQ sandwich but 99% country food.

Kim's BBQ House @ 900 W. Broad St., Dunn, NC. 910 - 892 - 7750.
Heading S on I 95 at Exit 56 try Fuller's Old Fashioned BBQ at Fayetteville, NC. They sell a good burger and also a buffet lunch with fried chicken.

Fuller's Old Fashioned BBQ @ 113 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville, NC. 910 - 484 - 5109.
http://www.fullersbbq.com/index.html
Melvin's Hamburger's @ 133 West Broad Street, Elizabethtown, NC 910 - 862 - 2763.
Front Porch Restaurant @ 1100 West Broad St., Elizabethtown, NC 910 - 862 - 3330.
http://frontporchrestaurant.com/Home_Page.html
Get off I 95 at Exit 20 in Lumberton, NC to the right then turn NW on Highway 201 which is N Roberts Ave. and go about half a mile to Fuller's BBQ for good road food.
Fuller's Old Fashion BBQ @ 3201 N Roberts Ave., Lumberton, NC. 910 - 738 - 8694.
http://www.fullersbbq.com/index.html
Get off I 95 at Exit 181B near Latta, SC and go one mile to Highway 917. Take a left and go about 3 miles to Abingdon Manor Inn and Restaurant at Latta, SC. Spend the night in a soft bed in a grand old inn and have a fantastic dinner.
Abingdon Manor Inn and Restaurant @ 307 Church Street, Latta, SC 843 - 752 - 5090.
http://www.abingdonmanor.com/
In SC get off I 95 at Exit 160 A going S and go E on # 20 less than a mile to Red Bone Alley in Florence Mall Shopping Center on Palmetto St. for a RBA Black and Bleu Burger or a Bubba Burger. The food is fresh and innovative South Carolina regional cuisine. Closely tied to the land, sea and rivers that abound in the region, South Carolina's cuisine is influenced by hundred of years of French, Mediterranean, African, English and West Indian cooking. Or go to Apple Annie's for good road food.
Redbone Alley @ 1903 West Palmetto St., Florence, SC 843 - 673 - 0035.
http://www.redbonealley.com/
Apple Annie's Deli and Pub @ 1720 W Palmetto Street, Florence, SC 843 - 669 - 6247. Get off I 95 at Exit 119 at Manning, SC and go E on Highway 261 to N Brooks Street. Take a left and go to McCabe's for good BBQ.
McCabe's Bar B Que @ 480 N. Brooks St., Manning, SC. 803 - 435 - 2833.
Get off I 95 in Summerton, SC at Exit # 108 and go N less than a mile to Church St. and good country cooking at Summerton Diner.
Summerton Diner @ 32 Church St., Summerton, SC 803 - 485 - 6835.
Get off I 95 at Exit 98 at Santee, SC and go W on Highway 6 to the 1st street on your left which is Britain. Turn left and go to Maurice's for good BBQ. Get off I 95 at Exit 98 and go W on Highway 6. Take a right on State Park Road and go to Lonestar BBQ for good southern food. Clark's Inn and Restaurant is also a fine place to spend the night and have breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Maurice's Gourmet BBQ @ 263 Britain St, Santee, SC 803 - 854 - 3889.
http://www.mauricesbbq.com/
Lonestar BBQ @ 2212 State Park Rd., Santee, SC. 803 - 854 - 2000
http://www.lonestarbbq.net/
Clark's Inn and Restaurant @ 114 Bradford Boulevard, Santee, SC 803 - 854 - 2101.
http://www.clarksinnandrestaurant.com/
Get off I 95 at Exit 57 for good BBQ @ Duke's. Lowcountry is good too.
Duke's BBQ @ 949 Robertson Blvd., Walterboro, SC 843 - 549 - 1446.
Low Country BBQ @ 635 South Jefferies Blvd., Walterboro, SC 843 - 549 - 8355.
Get off I 95 at Exit 38 at Yemassee, SC and go SE on Highway 68 to Castle Hall Road to Ray's Rib King for good BBQ.
Ray's Rib King @ 4 Castle Hall Road, Yemassee, SC 843 - 589 - 2919.
Get off I 95 at Exit 21 and have great pulled or chopped port at BBQ Grill. They also have BBQ ribs and chicken. I think it's better than Dukes.
BBQ Grill @ 8084 East Main St., Ridgeland, SC 843 - 645 - 4414.
Duke's BBQ @ 690 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland, SC 843 - 726 - 6244.
Get off I 95 at Exit 5 at Hardeville, SC and go S on Highway 17 which is Speedway Boulevard. Go 5.5 miles and take a left on Highway 170A which is S 27 34 and go 3.5 miles to Oakatie Highway. Take a right and go to The Pink Pig.
The Pink Pig @ 3508 South Okatie Highway, Hardeeville, SC 843 - 784 - 3635.
http://www.the-pink-pig.com/
Get off I 95 at Exit 102 at Pooler. GA and go W on Highway 80 4/5 blocks to Don's Famous BBQ.

Don's Famous BBQ @ 217 US Highway 80 E., Pooler, GA 912 - 748 - 8400.