Savannah, GA?

[Minnie&Nana]

My dearest friend is coming to visit from Boston and we've decided to drive to Savannah for a couple of nights; We've both always wanted to visit Savannah.

Wondering if we have any locals who could suggest casual restaurants? I especially hope to find some Southern Fried Chicken & Peach Cobbler at least almost as good as my grandmother's (she was from Mississippi and the absolute best cook ever). Someplace good for breakfast?

Although we'll be tourists, we'd like to avoid the worst touristy places unless it is somewhere we should not miss. We hope to walk (if tolerable in the heat), visit some Squares etc.

Thanks so much!

 

[SydSim]

My sister and her family just left there on Thursday, and they swear by Paula Dean's (and my sister can cook and EAT).

 

[Ohiodislover]

Although we'll be tourists, we'd like to avoid the worst touristy places unless it is somewhere we should not miss. We hope to walk (if tolerable in the heat), visit some Squares etc.

Thanks so much!

You will have so much fun. We go to HHI often, and drive down to Savannah for a day.

One thing we do, which is very touristy, but really fun--The carriage rides. Way to see the city, and avoid tromping around in the heat. The drivers have a LOT of information that you would never know otherwise. Plus can give you great info on local restaurants, and such.

We always used to eat at Paula Dean's before they moved to the new location. We haven't been to the new restaurant, but I've heard it has lost some charm and quality.

 

[Robinrs]

We love Savannah! We're going back for Thanksgiving (LOVE the Pink House) and go at least twice a year.

My co worker grew up there and her brother works for the Westin. She's getting us the "hook up" for our next trip.

Do NOT miss Paula's restaurant. The food is terribly unheathfully Southern! Last time I was there I asked how did my MOM get in their kitchen!!

Can't speak for the non touristy places because that's all we do. The last time we took a car trip to Tybee and it was a nice change of pace.

Enjoy!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Thanks, y'all!

Yes, we know about Lady & Son's Not sure if we can go there b/c they use hot pepper in the fried chicken recipe - unfortunately, not good for this old tummy. LOL Her recipes have become far more gourmet than down home like my grandmother's.

We've heard both the Pink House and Mrs Wilkes Boarding House are great, but we are hoping to find someplace where we'll not have to stand in line for an hour to get in. Maybe that's not reality in Savannah!

I think we're going to do the Oglethorpe Tour - a 90 mins tour on the day we arrive then use their on/off trolley the next day. Don't think we want to do a carriage tour if it is pulled by horses - have heard too many horror stories about the treatment of the horses.

Our last morning we plan to drive over to Tybee Island for the morning, have lunch then head back to Greensboro.

I actually read one Trip Advisor review that said they found Savannah to be decrepit and boring!! I cannot even imagine anyone would not love it!

Thanks again!

 

[acc82]

okay, let me start out by saying that I used to live very close to Savannah and worked there for about 7 months (commuted to work). So, I know Savannah pretty well to say the least. I think it is a nice place, but considering I spent so much time there, I still think Charleston is nicer. However, it's a good place to visit with some cool stuff.

Wondering if we have any locals who could suggest casual restaurants? I especially hope to find some Southern Fried Chicken & Peach Cobbler at least almost as good as my grandmother's (she was from Mississippi and the absolute best cook ever). Someplace good for breakfast?

I agree with the previous posters - The Lady and Son's is my absolute favorite restaurant, ever. I've been there in the early years and recently. So, I've been at her old location (before she was 'famous') and her son's were serving sweet tea. I've been to the new location also, after the 'famous' time. It's a monster (3 story restaurant). But, still awesome as ever! they don't take reservations, but the do take 'timeslots' at the door. So, you walk up and they give you a time to come back and get a table based on the number of people there. of course, if you're there at opening, you get a table immediately. It's not a bad system - you can walk around savannah while waiting for your table. the fried chicken, btw, is not spicy. it tastes like really good chicken.

Mrs. Wilkes is very good - it's family style dining (one big bowl of everything for the whole table). You have a wait a little while to get in here.

Although we'll be tourists, we'd like to avoid the worst touristy places unless it is somewhere we should not miss. We hope to walk (if tolerable in the heat), visit some Squares etc.

Thanks so much!

Again, if you're in the historic district where all the restaurants are, carriage tours, etc.....; then, you'll be in an area with plenty to look at. River street itself is touristy, but, I wouldn't miss it. It's mostly bars, but there are cute little shops down there. Also, the squares are cool to walk in, they're beautiful. I would skip the 'museum'. I don't do carriage tours, of course. But, you may like it. there are lots of shops in the historic area, and that's the main thing to do. hope that helped!

 

[Rora]

The Lady and Sons is soo good but so is Mrs. Wilkes.

If you heading over to Tybee, check out Paula Dean's brothers place where she films Paula's party-- Uncle Bubbas.

Have fun!!

 

[DisTeacher07]

My parents just got home (grandma lives an hour out of Savannah). All of the time they've been there they've heard of The Pirate House. They finally checked it out and my dad LOVED IT! Food was excellent and he loved all of the history!

 

[acc82]

on the pirate house: it's cool but, to me, the food was kinda weird. a lot of seafood of course. and, it is a little pricey. i've heard uncle bubba's is good, but lady and sons is better.

tybee is a cool beach - you'll enjoy it. not a lot of cool places to eat there, though.

 

[ugadog99]

Another vote for Lady and Sons...so, so yummy! We also really liked Uncle Bubba's for seafood. Out on Tybee, the Crab Shack is very good and ULTRA casual!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Thank you,everyone! I think we'll really enjoy the weekend. It seems, from what I've read, that many prefer Mrs Wilkes over Lady and Sons, while others prefer the latter.

acc82 ~ my daughter prefers Charleston too, but both my friend and I have been to Charleston (and will return) so want to check out Savannah. Two nights is not much time, but what the heck. Will definitely go down to River Street for sure...a friend mentioned t be sure to stop in Savannah Treats on River St sounds yummy.

We're staying at a B&B on W Jones St @ Barnard, so a good location. Plan on visiting Lafayette Sq, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, River St...if it's not too hot walking around some neighborhoods.

Thanks so much!

p.s. Had not heard of Uncle Bubba's, but we were thinking of trying the Crab Shack for lunch - do either of these have great fried shrimp??

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Definately go for the Crab Shack instead of Uncle Bubba's! The Crab Shack does not do any fried seafood, but it is fresh (like, watch the guy go out in the boat and check the crab traps fresh) and the atmosphere is cool. Uncle Bubba's is literally 2 minutes from my house and I've been there once, food was terrible. If you're looking for someplace casual on River St., check out Spanky's or Tubby's Tank House (owned by brothers). Lady & Sons is ok, but it was much better many years ago, Mrs. Wilkes is awesome! Oh, yeah, and Milely Cyrus is here in town filming a movie down on Tybee, so parking spots down there are pretty hard to come by because the film crew has a lot of the streets closed off. If you're headed there before you go out of town, you may want to get there early to find a place to park. Oh, and another spot you may want to try on Broughton St. is Leopold's Ice Cream....Billy Ray Cyrus and John Travolta were in a couple of weeks ago (JT's wife plays the Mom in the movie so he's come in a few times)...also on Tybee, StingRay's is where Greg Kinnear has been spotted a lot lately....

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Definately go for the Crab Shack instead of Uncle Bubba's! The Crab Shack does not do any fried seafood, but it is fresh (like, watch the guy go out in the boat and check the crab traps fresh) and the atmosphere is cool. Uncle Bubba's is literally 2 minutes from my house and I've been there once, food was terrible. If you're looking for someplace casual on River St., check out Spanky's or Tubby's Tank House (owned by brothers). Lady & Sons is ok, but it was much better many years ago, Mrs. Wilkes is awesome! Oh, yeah, and Milely Cyrus is here in town filming a movie down on Tybee, so parking spots down there are pretty hard to come by because the film crew has a lot of the streets closed off. If you're headed there before you go out of town, you may want to get there early to find a place to park. Oh, and another spot you may want to try on Broughton St. is Leopold's Ice Cream....Billy Ray Cyrus and John Travolta were in a couple of weeks ago (JT's wife plays the Mom in the movie so he's come in a few times)...also on Tybee, StingRay's is where Greg Kinnear has been spotted a lot lately....

Holy cow, that's a lot of great info! We'd heard of f Leopold's and want to go if we can find it on foot (know how we get there from W Jones and Barnard??).

I only can only fried eat shrimp due to allergies, so looks like the Crab Shack will not work for us.

Any idea where I can find an upscale Baby Boutique?

We're not going until August 6th, so hopefully the filming will be done..if not, we will get over to Tybee reasonably early Sunday morning
- even if we don't eat we mostly want to see the beach and smell the ocean. This is the first time in my life I've not lived directly on an ocean...waking up to the smell of salt water everyday - so I miss it.

Oh, what about really good Salt Water Taffy - any to be found? And what about breakfast - any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

For breakfast, there's a place on Tybee called The Breakfast Club, that may work since you guys will be there early.

The Baby Boutique: there is Punch & Judy, which is more mid town, over on Habersham St., and there is also Just For Baby, which is also mid town, near the mall, on Waters Ave.

Leopold's is right in the middle of the historic district on Broughton St., so you guys can get to it easily

For fried seafood I would try Tubby's Tank House, The Cobblestone Conch House or Fiddler's.

Hope that helps!

 

[chrisney]

We own a little place on Hilton Head, so head over to Savannah sometimes. Other things/places to consider doing...River Street Sweets has fabulous pralaines (spelling?)...to die for. And if you have a car, it's worth a trip to Bonaventure Cematary...gorgeous place, but bring the bug spray. Second the opinion of Lady and Sons, didn't like Pirate House. Haven't done Mrs. Wilkes just because of the wait. It's a fabulous city to wander with camera in hand. A lot of the doorways are way neat, and the ironwork is also really interesting. We did one of the ghost tours which was fun, but if you do one, make sure it's one that takes you into the colonial cematary at night...believe it or not, the city charges the companies to enter, and the one we used didn't do it...we felt like the poor neighbors with our noses pressed to the fence. Next time I go I'm considering one of the places that rents scooters for the day. Will be much easier to get around in the heat of the day and I won't be constrained by the tour busses.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Thank you Kistin'sMommy and chrisney! I am copying all the suggestions into word and will print it before we go.

Again, thanks so much!

 

[Straitlover]

Savannah Candy Kitchen will have all the taffy you could ever want! You can watch them make it at one of the locations (River Street or City Market, don't remember which). They have it in tons of different flavors. Be sure to check the discount coupon books; there's usually some kind of coupon for the store.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Lisa, thank you so much!!!

 

[vettechick99]

The Pirate House is best on Sunday for brunch. They have a ridiculously yummy and very classy buffet.

We love Garibaldi's italian restaurant. So much so we actually chose it for our wedding night dinner. Yum!

We also enjoy Spanky's for their chicken fingers. Just belly up to the bar.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Thank you!!