Sweet Potatoes–The Traditional “Slap Yo Mama” Good

Savannah can boast of a myriad of great dining places.  Some are large scale and well known and others are in places you wouldn’t expect to find.  Sweet Potatoes is one of those unprepossessing locations.  Situated in a tiny strip center next to a gas station at Waters & Eisenhower, Sweet Potatoes is like an oasis in the desert.  It’s a place you never knew you always wanted to eat in.  For people who visit Savannah, Sweet Potatoes offers an opportunity to experience southern cuisine at its finest.  For an average cost of $15 or less, you can try the peach glazed BBQ chicken, meat loaf, catfish, pot roast, or a number of other entrees.  Sides range from every conceivable type of sweet potato dish; green beans with garlic, onions, and bacon; corn pudding; and much more.  The biscuits are light and fluffy.  And, as touted In a Travel Channel Man Versus Food clip, Sweet Potatoes is heralded as having the world’s best banana pudding.  It may not beat my grandmother’s recipe, but I guarantee it will be a close second!

Six Pence Pub

If you like a pint along with a great “house specialty” dish like Shepherd’s Pie, try the Six Pence.  The Six Pence is always a great choice for lunch or a late afternoon stop.  Located on Bull Street in downtown Savannah, the Pub is a popular watering hole for those who are taking a stroll through the Historic District.  Patrons run the gamut of personalities.  I guarantee you’ll meet some interesting folks.

Best Hash browns in Town!

Some people are just breakfast people.  I’m one of those.  I can eat breakfast at ANY time during the day or evening.  If the dish is prepared well, it can be just as satisfying to me as dining in a 5-star resort or famous restaurant.  Okay, so I can sometimes be a cheap date?! 

Nevertheless, in every industry, there are stand-outs for various reasons.  In real estate, I stand out because I am a market nerd.  I love the statistics and neighborhood profiling that lead to good negotiation strategy.  Being the “market expert” is important to me.  In the breakfast world, I think the stand-outs can be classified according to the quality of the hash browns.  Most establishments can get the eggs or pancakes right.  Some will do better than others on the bacon.  However, hash browns are the real differentiators.  Getting them just browned and crispy enough seems to be an elusive skill for many establishments.

In Savannah, there is one place that always gets them right:  The Diner on Abercorn.  It doesn’t matter if you want them plain, or with cheese, onions, or whatever else, they are perfect.  And, who can beat the diner setting?  I’m sure that other items on the menu are equally good, but the real breakfast lover should give The Diner a shot at making a great impression.  Fast, cheap, prepared exactly the way you want it --- what’s not to love?

Fish Tales at Fort McAllister Marina

In the continuing saga of Savannah area seafood restaurants, it’s time to focus on a small place with a big impact in Richmond Hill.  Richmond Hill is a bedroom community of Savannah, and home to a wide range of residents, including a good number of military stationed at either Fort Stewart or Hunter Army Airfield.  Anyone living in Richmond Hill can tell you that fishing and boating are some of the most loved pastimes of the area, with a lot of activity centered in and around the Ogeechee River.  A central element in all of this activity is the Fort McAllister Marina located on GA 144 Spur.  Not only is the marina home is a good number of boat slips, it’s also the home of “Fish Tales,” a great hole-in-the-wall type seafood restaurant.  Fish Tales has two separate interior sections, including a room with a full bar and a few booths, as well as a dining room with three walls of windows looking out over the boats and river.  The dining room looks like it seats around seventy-five.  Dining extends to the outdoor area with as many tiki tables and chairs.  On weekends and special occasions, there will be live entertainment.  (In fact, yesterday diners were treated to an incredible fireworks display over the water in honor of the Labor Day weekend!)

The food choices are fabulous. Do yourself a favor if you’ve never been and get a lot of the appetizers for your table.  For example, the jalapeno poppers that are stuffed with crabmeat are great and  the hush puppies are sweet.  The buffalo shrimp are also a good choice.  Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the seafood choices!  The service may not be particularly speedy, but the trade off of not feeling rushed through dinner is worth it.  If you stay long enough, you’ll see anybody who’s anybody in Richmond Hill.  It’s a favorite watering hole.

The Shell House

Savannah is the perfect destination for folks who love seafood.  There are dozens of dining choices available with a wide range of price options.  One option in Southside Savannah is The Shell House.  This restaurant may not be the first one that comes to mind if you ask locals for a recommendation, but it might be worth a try.  Located at the intersection of GA 204 and I-95, The Shell House seems to be a staple for a lot of locals.  I stopped by on a Saturday late afternoon around 5:30 p.m. and there were already about 75 cars in the gravel parking lot.  I thought I was in for a long wait, but the restaurant is deceptively large. (It is available for banquets and private parties as well.)  My party was immediately seated.  Within 10 minutes from parking the car, we had placed our food order.

At first glance, the menu seems a little pricey by Savannah standards.  However, the portions are large.  I shared a fried shrimp dinner and both of us had more than a dozen shrimp each, along with a side salad, corn on the cob, hush puppies, and sausage --- all for about $30.  I’d say that was a bargain.  The food was tasty, served hot, with a smiling server who kept our drinks full.  An added bonus was the ability to look out at the peaceful lagoon.  Having said all that, don’t expect a “fine dining” experience.  The food is served on disposable plates with plastic tableware.  You'll sit at a typical oyster shucking table, wood with a circle carved out in the center for disposing shells, shrimp tails, or your table trash.  Diners who aren’t used to these types of tables might consider it unsanitary, but the locals understand. 

On line reviews are positive and fairly consistent.  The most frequent praise I’ve heard is for the fried shrimp, low country boil, and snow crab legs.  I’ve tried all three of those dishes and can give them a thumbs up.  However, forget about having water with your meal.  The taste is terrible.

After dinner, or between courses, check out the deck over the lagoon.  The Shell House comes with its own resident alligators who are often found swimming under the deck.  The largest one I’ve seen was about 4 feet long.  He’s sure to wow any children in your party.  Large turtles and egrets are also usually close by.

Watermelon Creek Vineyard

 
Great wine doesn’t have to come from Napa.  There are several vineyards around the Savannah area, but my favorite is Watermelon Creek Vineyard, located about 45 minutes away in Glennville, GA.  (It’s just on the other side of Fort Stewart.)  Watermelon Creek is relatively young in terms of years of production, but that hasn’t stopped the vineyard from developing medal-winning wines.  Internationally know winemaking consultant Tom Payette has assisted proprietors Charles & Deborah Tillman in developing a variety of wines specializing in the muscadine grape.  In March of this year, each of the six wines currently offered won medals in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
The first releases of wines comprise the Heritage Series and includes:  Lower Mill White; Ohoopee River White (semi-sweet Carlos grape wine); Mill Pond Blush (my favorite, with the combined sweetness of the Carlos & Noble grapes); Altamaha River Red (Noble); Lane’s Bridge Red (semi-sweet Noble); and Stafford’s Ferry White. Free tastings are offered and can often be enjoyed with raw milk cheeses, fresh fruit, and bruschetta from Flat Creek Lodge. The Tasting Room and Vineyard Store offer all kinds of wine-related accessories and fun items.  However, that is just the beginning of what’s available at Watermelon Creek.
 


Watermelon Creek has been in the same family since 1820.  Over the last century, the property has been home to a sawmill, grist mill, turpentine still, barrel making business, general store, and post office, as well as remaining the homestead of the original Padgett family.  Charles Tillman, the ninth generation of the family, has carved out a new future for the land, centered on its rural heritage.  In fact, the label of the Heritage Series pays tribute to the historic and geologic landmarks of the area.  The front label includes a likely of Charles’ great grandfather, Charles Columbus Padgett, as well as a General Merchandise invoices from his turn-of-the-century general store, and Lane’s Bridge that once spanned the Altamaha River nearby. 
The Tillmans have a great vision for Watermelon Creek Vineyard.  The Vineyard is already being sought out as a destination venue.  Parties, family reunions, and weddings are becoming routine.  However, it doesn’t take a major life event to choose to visit the Vineyard.  Dropping in is perfectly acceptable.  Group functions for 10-16 can usually be accommodated with a week’s notice, and there are five menus from which to choose.  The 15-acre site includes The Barn Yard, The Pond, The Mill House, The Vineyard, Watermelon Creek nature area, and the Winery Complex.  Larger venues for functions include the Bud Break Banquet Hall and Vineyard Terrace, which seats 144 and 30, respectively.  The spaces are unique and are decorated with historic memorabilia.  Wedding packages are offered via all-inclusive packages.  You can even arrive in style by buggy.
  

2977 Mt. Zion Church Road
Glennville, Georgia   30427

Guyton Gem: Beulah’s Coffee House

Guyton, GA is a a Savannah suburb located about 30 minutes west of the city.  Many professionals who work at Gulfstream, Georgia Ports, Effingham Health System, and Fort Howard select Guyton due to location and charm.  Driving into this one-traffic light town is like stepping back through time.  Guyton has a “Mayberry RFD” appeal.  While there are opportunities for new construction, the majority of the residential structures are interesting Victorian style homes.
One of these Victorian homes has been transformed into what I consider the best lunch spot in town, Beulah’s Coffee House and Consignments.  Don’t let the name fool you.  You can get a lot more than coffee in this restaurant, tucked away on a little side street at 407 Church Street. In fact, the unique salads and paninis could rival anything that Savannah has to offer.  The menu variety includes a wide variety of seafood, beef, and chicken dishes as well.  Your food could likely be prepared by proprietress, Maria Simmons.
Beulah’s is one of those places you’re always looking for off the beaten path.  Of course, to the locals, the restaurant is a hub of town activity.  It’s open Monday through Thursday (and Saturday) from 8a – 3p.  Friday’s hours extend to 10p, during which you might be able to enjoy live entertainment from local musicians.  During any given week, patrons might include a Bible study group, wedding or birthday party, local club, or random straggler like me.
Not only is the food terrific, but the restaurant also offers a gallery of art and consignment items.  So, grab a bite to eat, do a little shopping, and enjoy a Victorian home decked out with all the period furnishings.