INDIAN
THAI
Taste of India specializes in authentic Northern Indian cuisine, served buffet-style and tableside in an ornately decorated space. Dial up the spice on dishes ladled into silver serving bowls and wash it all down with a mango lassi. Runner-up: Pakwan
Ele Tran’s The King and I restaurant has a strong local following, and for good reason. Its lunch and dinner menus offer generous portions and a changing rotation of new dishes, from coconut-rich Tom Kha Gai to five mouth-watering Thai curry varieties. Runner-up: Chiriya’s
ITALIAN With starters like bruschetta and fried calamari, main courses such as baked ziti, chicken parm and mussels linguine, and cannoli and spumoni to finish, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you won’t leave Corleone’s hungry. Take a table inside or dine al fresco beneath the iconic striped awning. Runner-up: Bella’s Italian Café
MEXICAN Time-honored Tex-Mex recipes and authentic Mexican classics make up the flavorful menu at Tequila’s Town. Order your tacos, chimichangas and fajitas with a pitcher of margaritas and some guacamole, prepared tableside with your preferred ingredients. Runner-up: Jalapeños Mexican Grill
SOUTHERN FOOD With menu favorites like fried catfish, jerk chicken and meatloaf, it’s easy to fill up on the home cooking at Sweet Potatoes. Just save room for the banana pudding—topped with pecans, dusted with cinnamon, and dubbed by Man v. Food as the best on Earth. Runner-up: Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room
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VIETNAMESE The noodle bar craze landed in Savannah with Broughton Street’s Flying Monk Noodle Bar, another Ele Tran specialty. Serving up both hot and cold plates in a slurp-and-go storefront, Flying Monk is beloved for its pho, featuring noodles made fresh daily. Runner-up: Saigon Bistro
FRENCH FRIES Skin-on, thin-cut, lightly salted, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside...the only thing that could make Green Truck Pub’s french fries even more irresistible is a dip in their tangy housemade ketchup. Runner-up: Five Guys Burgers and Fries
2017
BEST OF SAVANNAH
TO MARKET, TO MARKET FRESH/ORGANIC PRODUCE GROCER
Fresh food at a fair price makes it easy to eat a little healthier on a budget. That’s the ethos behind Lucky’s Market, the Boulder, Colorado-based chain that specializes in organic produce without the snobbery.
Runner-up: Whole Foods
FRESH/ORGANIC PRODUCE MARKET Set up each Saturday beneath a canopy of oak trees, the Forsyth Farmers' Market is a sight to behold, bringing Savannah the best in seasonal produce from area farms. Bonus points for custom goods like FraLi Gourmet pasta and Alake’s Pecans.
Runner-up: Davis Produce
SPECIALTY/GOURMET FOOD With gourmet groceries sourced both locally and regionally, Smith Brothers Butcher Shop sells all the accoutrements for a fine meal. The old-world butchery even doubles as a wine and cheese shop.
Runner-up: FraLi Gourmet
FRIED CHICKEN Like grandma’s house on a Sunday afternoon, Sisters of the New South serves up fried chicken with heart, using a secret family recipe passed down for generations. Runner-up: Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room
SEAFOOD MARKET A third-generation family business, Russo’s Seafood is synonymous with fresh-caught seafood in Savannah. The legendary market carries shrimp, scallops, crabmeat and assorted fish, cut to order or served for lunch in the restaurant next door.
Runner-up: Jackie’s Seafood