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A table full of olives, cheese, and wine.
Wine and snacks at Late Air.
Jason B James

9 Hottest New Restaurants to Check Out in Savannah

From natural wines to Jewish banh mi

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Wine and snacks at Late Air.
| Jason B James

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What’s everyone talking about? While the Eater 18 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the “it” places of the moment. Enter the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight the spots crowds are flocking to at the moment or generating a big buzz. Folks are asking, “Have you been yet?” Try one of these newbies today.

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Le Banh Cafe

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Adorable shop Le Banh Cafe specializes in banh mi but also offers lemongrass chicken bowls, Vietnamese coffee, and Thai iced tea on Barnard Street. It’s quick and affordable with a touch screen ordering system. The early standout seems to be the vegan banh mi with tofu and pickled vegetables.

Stevedore Bakery

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It’s all about the caffeine and carbs at Stevedore Bakery in the Thompson hotel. Executive Chef Rob Newton and executive pastry chef Noah Whritenour (formerly of Husk) put out fresh-baked breads, irresistible sweets like a benne seed profiterole or a Georgia peach hand pie, as well as sandwiches and salads. Stevedore serves local coffee company Perc.

Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.
Breakfast sandwich at Stevedore Bakery.
Stevedore Bakery

All-day cafe Shuk brings the flavors of Israel, Lebanon, and other Eastern Mediterranean countries to Savannah. The bright and airy eatery offers a wide range of classics like sabich, shakshuka, chicken shwarma, doner kebab, labneh, hummus, and plenty of fluffy pitas. Restaurateur Alexis Levin told Savannah Now that her father’s upbringing in Israel inspired the menu.

A cafe with blue seating and warm yellow walls.
The sunny interiors at Shuk.
Shuk

Hot Rye

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The team behind popular new American restaurant Cotton & Rye is stretching its culinary creativity with a food truck named Hot Rye. The mobile kitchen, which premieres on April 23 outside of the restaurant, will serve fun lunch items like chili cheese latkes, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, and a Jewish banh mi with chopped liver spread and corned beef tongue.

Ukiyo Savannah

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Southern Cross Hospitality owner Anthony Debreceny lived in Japan for several years and always knew he wanted open a Japanese restaurant in Savannah — his vision is now realized with the opening of Ukiyo. Executive chef A.J. Benacquisto created a menu of Japanese street food, including ramen, bao, yakatori, and more.

Brochu's Family Tradition

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Ex-Alinea Group chef Andrew Brochu and wife Sophie Brochu recently opened neighborhood restaurant Brochu’s Family Tradition in the Starland District of Savannah. The menu focuses on Andrew’s acclaimed fried chicken and fresh seafood from the Lowcountry coast, emphasizing oysters with several preparations: raw, steamed, grilled, roasted, and casino. The food is a throwback to the backyard gatherings and family dinner parties of Andrew’s youth.

Smol Bar

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Smol bar is a closet-sized dive from the folks behind Two Tides Brewing. The vibe is hip hole-in-the-wall hangout in under 300 square feet. The bar serves slushies, Jell-O shots, boozy seltzers, beers, and hot dogs.

The Garage at Victory North

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The Garage at Victory North is the only place in Savannah for a midnight strip steak and a Spam cocktail. Chef Todd Harris turns out sophisticated plates like a fried pork chop adorned with braised watermelon, scotch bonnet peppers, and savory collards and the pan-roasted catfish with rice middlins and chanterelle mushrooms in a bath of beurre noisette.

Late Air

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Late Air is the bar that Savannah was lacking — a neighborhood spot to drink natural wines and snack on scallop crudo with nuoc cham. Industry vets Madeline Ott and Colin Breland had the idea in mind while working in Nashville, but ended up on Bull Street because of Ott’s time at SCAD. Now customers can order hard-to-find bottles next to a diverse range of dinner plates from chef Juan Stevenson.

Le Banh Cafe

Adorable shop Le Banh Cafe specializes in banh mi but also offers lemongrass chicken bowls, Vietnamese coffee, and Thai iced tea on Barnard Street. It’s quick and affordable with a touch screen ordering system. The early standout seems to be the vegan banh mi with tofu and pickled vegetables.

Stevedore Bakery

It’s all about the caffeine and carbs at Stevedore Bakery in the Thompson hotel. Executive Chef Rob Newton and executive pastry chef Noah Whritenour (formerly of Husk) put out fresh-baked breads, irresistible sweets like a benne seed profiterole or a Georgia peach hand pie, as well as sandwiches and salads. Stevedore serves local coffee company Perc.

Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.
Breakfast sandwich at Stevedore Bakery.
Stevedore Bakery

Shuk

All-day cafe Shuk brings the flavors of Israel, Lebanon, and other Eastern Mediterranean countries to Savannah. The bright and airy eatery offers a wide range of classics like sabich, shakshuka, chicken shwarma, doner kebab, labneh, hummus, and plenty of fluffy pitas. Restaurateur Alexis Levin told Savannah Now that her father’s upbringing in Israel inspired the menu.

A cafe with blue seating and warm yellow walls.
The sunny interiors at Shuk.
Shuk

Hot Rye

The team behind popular new American restaurant Cotton & Rye is stretching its culinary creativity with a food truck named Hot Rye. The mobile kitchen, which premieres on April 23 outside of the restaurant, will serve fun lunch items like chili cheese latkes, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, and a Jewish banh mi with chopped liver spread and corned beef tongue.

Ukiyo Savannah

Southern Cross Hospitality owner Anthony Debreceny lived in Japan for several years and always knew he wanted open a Japanese restaurant in Savannah — his vision is now realized with the opening of Ukiyo. Executive chef A.J. Benacquisto created a menu of Japanese street food, including ramen, bao, yakatori, and more.

Brochu's Family Tradition

Ex-Alinea Group chef Andrew Brochu and wife Sophie Brochu recently opened neighborhood restaurant Brochu’s Family Tradition in the Starland District of Savannah. The menu focuses on Andrew’s acclaimed fried chicken and fresh seafood from the Lowcountry coast, emphasizing oysters with several preparations: raw, steamed, grilled, roasted, and casino. The food is a throwback to the backyard gatherings and family dinner parties of Andrew’s youth.

Smol Bar

Smol bar is a closet-sized dive from the folks behind Two Tides Brewing. The vibe is hip hole-in-the-wall hangout in under 300 square feet. The bar serves slushies, Jell-O shots, boozy seltzers, beers, and hot dogs.

The Garage at Victory North

The Garage at Victory North is the only place in Savannah for a midnight strip steak and a Spam cocktail. Chef Todd Harris turns out sophisticated plates like a fried pork chop adorned with braised watermelon, scotch bonnet peppers, and savory collards and the pan-roasted catfish with rice middlins and chanterelle mushrooms in a bath of beurre noisette.

Late Air

Late Air is the bar that Savannah was lacking — a neighborhood spot to drink natural wines and snack on scallop crudo with nuoc cham. Industry vets Madeline Ott and Colin Breland had the idea in mind while working in Nashville, but ended up on Bull Street because of Ott’s time at SCAD. Now customers can order hard-to-find bottles next to a diverse range of dinner plates from chef Juan Stevenson.

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