Best Restaurants in Savannah, GA: Where to Eat and What to Order
Finding the best restaurants in Savannah, GA, starts with choosing what matters most to your meal. You might want Southern cooking, a seafood lunch, or a dinner worth planning your evening around. Your budget, location, and occasion will help narrow the choices.
This guide compares restaurants for casual meals, family outings, and special dinners. You can explore Southern dishes, seafood options, and places that suit different dining plans. Each restaurant profile explains what to order, where to go, and what to check before booking.
Start with the quick comparison table below to build your shortlist. Then compare menus, prices, and reservation details to choose a restaurant that fits your trip.
Best Restaurants in Savannah, GA, at a Glance
Choose your restaurant according to the meal, location, and budget you have in mind. Mrs. Wilkes suits Southern lunch, while Vic’s offers river views. For brunch, consider Collins Quarter Downtown. These quick picks help you compare the shortlist before reading each restaurant’s details.
Prices checked October 17, 2026. Menus can change. Except where noted, allow extra for tax, tips, and drinks.
Best Restaurants in Savannah For seafood, family meals
These picks cover Southern cooking, seafood, family meals, and special dinners. Each recommendation serves a different dining need.
Prices checked October 17, 2026. Menus can change. Unless stated otherwise, prices exclude tax, tips, drinks, and extras.
Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room: Best for Classic Southern Lunch
Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room suits visitors who want Southern home cooking served at shared tables.
Find it at 107 West Jones Street in the Historic District. The changing menu includes fried chicken, cornbread dressing, biscuits, and vegetables. Daily selections vary, so expect a shared meal rather than individual entrée orders.
Lunch costs $35 for ages 13 and older, including tax. Children aged 12 and younger pay $17.50. Casual clothing suits the restaurant’s published dress policy.
Planning: No reservations. Lunch runs weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., subject to holiday and seasonal closures.
Consideration: Bring cash or a check. Smaller parties share tables with other diners, and queues can affect your schedule.
The Grey: Best for Contemporary Southern Cooking
The Grey suits diners who want seasonal Southern cooking with dishes beyond familiar comfort food.
The restaurant stands at 109 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, on downtown’s western side. Its published dinner menu lists dayboat catch at $38 and pan roasted chicken at $40.
Consider Savannah red rice balls or fried Georgia shrimp as starters. The menu changes with seasonal availability, sometimes during service. Check the latest choices before planning around a specific dish.
Planning: Reserve through the restaurant’s official Resy link. Its dining room follows a smart or dressy casual policy.
Consideration: Avoid gym clothing and beachwear. Share dietary requests when booking, then confirm them with your server.
Official dinner menu | Reservations and dress policy
The Shrimp Factory: Best for a Casual Seafood Meal
The Shrimp Factory suits seafood diners who want several shrimp dishes in a casual River Street setting.
Find it at 313 East River Street, along Savannah’s waterfront. Its official menu lists lunch shrimp and grits at $25 and the shrimp fry at $24.
The shrimp and grits combines garlic butter chardonnay sauce, tomatoes, green onions, and candied ham. A $16 shrimp po’boy offers another option when you prefer a sandwich.
Compare the lunch and dinner sections before choosing your order. Some steamed seafood dishes carry market prices.
Planning: The restaurant offers reservations through its website and serves lunch and dinner daily.
Consideration: Ask for the current price before ordering crab legs or market-priced platters.
The Olde Pink House: Best for Dining in a Historic Setting
The Olde Pink House suits visitors who want Southern food alongside Savannah’s historic architecture.
The restaurant occupies a historic mansion at 23 Abercorn Street, beside Reynolds Square. Its dinner menu lists crispy scored flounder at $45.95 and grilled pork tenderloin at $33.95.
The flounder comes with apricot shallot sauce, stone ground grits, and collard greens. Pork tenderloin includes bourbon molasses, sweet potato, and collard greens.
These dishes offer clear choices between seafood and meat without leaving the Southern menu.
Planning: Reserve through the official website. Lunch and dinner follow different schedules and menus.
Consideration: Dinner prices do not apply automatically to lunch. Check the correct service before budgeting or booking.
Vic’s on the River: Best for Dinner With River Views
Vic’s on the River suits diners who want Southern cooking with views across the Savannah River.
Its official address is 26 East Bay Street, within the riverfront area. Guests can enter from Bay Street or River Street. The dining room overlooks the waterfront, while the patio faces Factors Walk.
The dinner menu lists shrimp and grits at $30, pecan fried flounder at $38, and crab cakes at $45. Lunch has separate prices.
Planning: Reserve through OpenTable using the restaurant’s official booking page. Ask about seating if the river view matters.
Consideration: Check payment charges and group gratuity policies before estimating your total. Vic’s publishes both alongside its menu.
Saint Bibiana: Best for an Italian Special Occasion Dinner
Saint Bibiana suits couples planning a special dinner around Italian pasta, seafood, and a Forsyth Park location.
Find it at 700 Drayton Street, at Hotel Bardo. The menu lists Bibiana Pomodoro at $22, pappardelle at $24, and Mediterranean branzino at $52.
The pappardelle includes braised Georgia pork shoulder. Branzino comes with oven-dried tomatoes and Sicilian anise butter. Compare pasta and larger mains before deciding how much to order.
Planning: Book through the official Resy link. Walk-ins depend on available seating, while outdoor dining depends on weather.
Consideration: Review the cancellation policy before reserving. The restaurant also has no dedicated children’s menu, although simple modifications may be possible.
The Pirates’ House: Best for a Casual Family Meal
The Pirates’ House suits families who want Southern food, children’s choices, and a casual dress policy.
The restaurant stands at 20 East Broad Street, near the eastern riverfront. Its Southern lunch buffet costs $20 per adult and $9.50 for children aged 11 and younger.
The buffet includes fried chicken, changing Southern sides, and dessert. Drinks cost extra.
A separate menu for children under ten lists chicken fingers at $10 and grilled cheese at $6.50.
Planning: The restaurant strongly encourages reservations. Casual clothes are acceptable.
Consideration: The buffet runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with some holiday exclusions. Large families should confirm seating arrangements because larger parties may occupy separate tables.
Official lunch menu | Reservations
Corleone’s Trattoria: Best for Lower-Cost Pasta Options
Corleone’s Trattoria suits diners comparing familiar pasta dishes at lower published prices than several special occasion restaurants.
Find it at 44 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, at Broughton Street in downtown Savannah. The Italian menu includes lasagna, baked ziti, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken ziti Alfredo.
Its online ordering menu lists beef lasagna and vegetable lasagna at $15.95 each. Confirm dining room prices, since ordering prices may differ.
Planning: Reserve through the official website’s Resy link. Corleone’s describes its setting as casual, with indoor and outdoor dining.
Consideration: Sunday service starts at 4 p.m. Choose another day if you want lunch, and confirm current hours before leaving.
Official menus and restaurant information | Reservations
Collins Quarter Downtown: Best for Breakfast and Brunch
Collins Quarter Downtown suits visitors who want breakfast or brunch near Historic District sightseeing stops.
Choose its 151 Bull Street location for the dishes and policies listed here. The Australian inspired brunch menu includes Swine Time Beni at $19 and Avo Smash at $15.
Swine Time Beni combines pulled pork, poached eggs, bacon, French toast, and hollandaise. A classic breakfast costs $15, offering another option when you prefer a simpler plate.
Planning: Brunch seating follows arrival order. The restaurant does not accept brunch reservations, regardless of party size.
Consideration: Allow flexibility before a timed tour. Dinner uses a separate menu, schedule, and reservation arrangement, so check the correct service.
Official menus | Dinner reservations and brunch policy
Cotton & Rye: Best for a Neighborhood Dinner Beyond Central Downtown
Cotton & Rye suits diners who want to explore beyond central downtown while keeping several meal prices available.
The restaurant operates at 1801 Habersham Street, south of Forsyth Park. Its American menu lists fried chicken and a smash cheeseburger at $22 each.
For a larger budget, consider seafood pasta at $36 or hanger steak at $45. The fried chicken includes macaroni and cheese and honey cornmeal donuts.
Planning: Reserve through Resy for parties of one to five. Larger groups should use the restaurant’s separate request form.
Consideration: Cotton & Rye serves dinner Monday through Saturday and closes Sundays. Its $17 shrimp and grits appears under starters, so compare portion categories carefully.
How We Selected These Savannah Restaurants
We selected these Savannah restaurants through online research, using official menus, published prices, locations, and reservation policies. This guide does not draw on personal visits or firsthand tastings.
Our selection covers Southern cooking, seafood, Italian dishes, and brunch. We compared sample meal prices to help readers consider different budgets. We also considered dining plans, from casual lunches to date nights.
Location matters when you plan meals around sightseeing. We identified each restaurant’s area so you can compare it with your hotel and planned stops.
Official restaurant websites and linked booking services supplied menu and reservation details. We noted differences between lunch, dinner, and online ordering prices where relevant.
We did not conduct a documented comparison of customer ratings or recent review patterns. Our recommendations reflect dining needs and published information, rather than a ranking by review scores.
Where to Eat in Downtown Savannah and the Historic District
Restaurants Near River Street and City Market
Choose The Shrimp Factory for a meal directly on East River Street. Vic’s on the River offers entrances from both Bay Street and River Street.
A riverfront address does not guarantee a river view from every table. Vic’s distinguishes its river-facing dining room from its patio overlooking Factors Walk. Ask about seating when reserving.
For plans around City Market and western downtown, consider Corleone’s at MLK Boulevard and Broughton Street. The Grey offers another western downtown option at 109 MLK Boulevard.
Restaurants Near Forsyth Park and Other Downtown Stops
Saint Bibiana at 700 Drayton Street suits dining plans around Forsyth Park. The restaurant provides a support elevator for guests needing help reaching its dining room.
For sightseeing along Bull Street, consider Collins Quarter Downtown at 151 Bull Street. Choose The Olde Pink House for plans around Reynolds Square. Mrs. Wilkes provides a West Jones Street lunch stop.
Cotton & Rye sits south of Forsyth Park at 1801 Habersham Street, beyond the central Historic District sightseeing area. Plan that dinner separately from your River Street stops.
Which Savannah Restaurant Suits Your Plans?
Choose according to your meal plans, budget, and sightseeing route. These recommendations draw from the restaurants above. Each serves a different need, so compare the practical details before booking.
Your Plans | Recommended Choice | Why It Fits | What to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
First visit | The Olde Pink House | Southern dishes beside Reynolds Square | Current menu and reservations |
Southern food | Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room | Shared lunch with changing Southern dishes | Weekday service and cash payment |
Seafood dinner | The Shrimp Factory | Shrimp, fish, and steamed seafood options | Dinner menu and market prices |
Anniversary | Saint Bibiana | Italian pasta and seafood for a planned dinner | Reservations and cancellation terms |
Family meal | The Pirates’ House | Dedicated menu for children under ten | Age limits and seating |
Lower-cost meal | Corleone’s Trattoria | Lasagna lists at $15.95 online | Dining room price and included sides |
Waterfront meal | Vic’s on the River | River views from its dining room | River-facing table availability |
Check official menus before deciding. Prices, available dishes, and seating arrangements can change.
What to Know Before Dining in Savannah
Reservations, Walk-Ins, and Opening Days
Mrs. Wilkes takes no reservations and serves weekday lunch. Collins Quarter Downtown also accepts no brunch reservations. Cotton & Rye recommends booking and closes Sundays. Check your chosen restaurant’s schedule before arranging other activities.
Menu Prices and Dining Budgets
Cotton & Rye lists fried chicken at $22. Vic’s dinner shrimp and grits costs $30. Budget separately for tax, tips, drinks, and extras.
Mrs. Wilkes charges $35 per adult, including tax. Compare meal formats and included sides before deciding which option fits your budget.
Dress Codes and Dietary Requests
The Grey requires smart or dressy casual clothing and excludes gym clothes and beachwear. The Pirates’ House accepts casual dress.
Cotton & Rye lists vegetarian options and says it can adapt some dishes for gluten-free requests. Discuss allergies separately with staff. A vegetarian dish does not automatically meet gluten-free or allergy requirements.
Parking, Walking Routes, and Accessibility
Use the city’s official parking garage information to compare locations before driving downtown. Check your route between the garage, restaurant, and sightseeing stops.
Do not assume historic buildings provide step-free entry. Mrs. Wilkes confirms a ground-floor entrance without stairs. Saint Bibiana provides a support elevator. Contact your restaurant about entrances, seating, and restroom access when needed.
Final Thoughts: Which Savannah Restaurant Should You Choose?
Choose Mrs. Wilkes for a shared Southern lunch or The Shrimp Factory for casual seafood. Consider The Olde Pink House for its historic setting and Saint Bibiana for an Italian celebration dinner. Vic’s suits riverfront plans, while Collins Quarter Downtown fits breakfast and brunch stops.
Compare Corleone’s published pasta prices when keeping costs down. Families can review The Pirates’ House children’s menu before booking. Match your choice to your sightseeing route and meal budget. Before leaving, check the official menu, opening hours, and reservation availability for your chosen date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Restaurants in Savannah, GA
Explore More of Savannah
- For more recommendations on local attractions, dining options, and historic sites, explore our comprehensive Savannah travel guide.
- You can plan your walking routes and learn more about the area’s iconic architecture in our guide to the Savannah Historic District.
- If you are planning a trip out to Tybee Island, check out our guide on the top things to do in Savannah Beach.
- To explore nearby hiking trails, spot migratory birds, and experience local coastal marshes, read our full overview of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.
John Robert
Travel Writer & Founder @ Thing Savannah
John Robert is a travel writer and explorer specializing in authentic regional guides, detailed itineraries, and practical travel logistics.