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Midtown Savannah is full of beautiful antebellum houses and savory Southern cuisine. Some of the best restaurants in the area retain this historic integrity by cooking delicious food in refurbished homes or buildings in the neighborhood, while other establishments have casual patio dining among the live oaks and palms. In Midtown, you’re sure to find fresh southern fare and seafood options with a modern twist of intercontinental influences, and quite often these contemporary flavors are in structures over 100 years old.

Local 11 Ten

Local 11 Ten

Local 11 Ten’s exceptional menu and venue have been featured in Architectural Digest, Veranda, South, and The Art of Fine Food magazines just within the past year. Located one block south of Forsyth Park, Local 11 Ten encompasses a chic environment and inspiring cuisine for locals and visitors alike. The chefs cook up traditional Southern cuisine with a French finesse that is sure to satisfy. In addition to supplying Savannah with great food, Local 11 Ten also has phenomenal cocktails, local art installations, and an expansive rooftop that overlooks enchanting views of the city and live oak trees.

Local 11 Ten, 1110 Bull St. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 790 9000

Fine Dining

Elizabeth on 37th

Elizabeth on 37th sits in a beautiful 20th-century antebellum mansion on 37th street. The restaurant opened up back in 1981 and has been known for using local seafood and produce ever since. The restaurant even has its own herb and edible flower garden. The name of each local farm is listed on the menu to ensure validation of the best local ingredients. From the herbs out back to the seasonal menu changes, Elizabeth on 37th guarantees fresh local entrees amid an ornate fine dining experience.

Elizabeth on 37th, 105 E 37th St. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 236 5547

Johnny Harris

Johnny Harris has been cooking up authentic barbecue since 1924. What started as a roadside shack has turned into one of Savannah’s most popular restaurants due to a loyal following and exceptional food. Johnny Harris even sells its own specialty BBQ sauces and restaurant cookbook. Menu items include smokehouse entrees, seafood, and any kind of liquor or cocktail concoction imaginable. Eat like a king inside the restaurant’s radiant atrium and antique decor while chowing down on some real Southern barbecue.

Johnny Harris 1651 E Victory Dr. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 354 7810

Starland Café

Feel like a true Savannah local at Starland Café where the food is just as homey and comforting as the atmosphere in this historic townhouse bistro. Stop by for lunch and have a fresh panini or salad on the charming front porch or in the cozy interior. Starland’s owners Chef Michael Pritchard and John Deaderick always use organic ingredients and handmade ciabatta breads. They also offer daily specials. Starland’s hearty salads and sandwiches are sure to satisfy any midday appetite.

Starland Café, 11 E 41st St. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 443 9355

The Florence

The Florence

Once an ice factory, the location is now home to some of the best Italian food in Savannah. Owner and chef Hugh Acheson has opened several renowned restaurants in both Atlanta and Athens, Georgia. He’s also written his own cookbook and has been featured as a contestant and judge on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. His most recent project was opening up The Florence in the summer of 2014. If you want a chef you can trust to make the best Italian food and pizzas in the region, look no further. Acheson’s expertise won’t disappoint even the pickiest palate.

The Florence, 1 W Victory Dr. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 234 5522

700 Drayton Restaurant

700 Drayton Restaurant

Part of Mansion on Forsyth Park, the 700 Drayton Restaurant presents a unique dining experience in a 19th-century mansion. With a Viennese ballroom and six private dining rooms, the restaurant itself is fun to explore. Each dining room has its own characteristics and style, varying from light and airy to dark and robust. Nonetheless, an opulent setting offering exceptional contemporary cuisine is always assured at the 700 Drayton. A few entrée favorites include the summer squash soup, marinated ahi, chorizo hush puppies, and “Oh Savannah” ice cream. Dress code is casual, valet is available, and scheduled reservations are advised.

700 Drayton, 700 Drayton St. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 341 0700

Leochi’s Trattoria

Leochi’s Trattoria has been rated Savannah’s “Best Chef” and “Best Italian Restaurant” by Connect Savannah. Chef Leoci began his love for Italian food during summers in Sicily as a child. The passion turned into a successful career and in 2009, a new restaurant opened in the heart of Savannah. Leoci focuses on local and organic ingredients from nearby farms, with Italian influences. Try an array of menu options from house-made pastas to brick oven-roasted appetizers. Other than the Italian imported olive oils and balsamic, you can expect just about everything else on the menu to be Georgia grown.

Leochi’s, 606 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 335 7027

Butterhead Greens

Butterhead Greens Café

Another popular lunch spot in Midtown Savannah, Butterhead Greens is an environmentally and locally conscious café that serves classic lunch entrees. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, owner Patrick Zimmerman opened Butterhead Greens back in 2010. The café has been a neighborhood favorite ever since. The menu offers local bottomless coffee, build your own salads, soups, sandwiches, and daily specials that are posted on their website blog. Butterhead Greens is located in a black- and green-colored historic house with a newly remodeled interior. This is a great spot for a quick breakfast or casual lunch.

Butterhead Greens Café, 1813 Bull St. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 201 1808

Russo’s Seafood Restaurant

Russo’s Seafood is a family-owned restaurant that remains quintessentially ‘Savannah’ in both taste and style. Russo’s is a wholesale seafood retailer that offers fresh seafood lunches in the early afternoon. The restaurant is located in a turquoise-colored house next to the seafood store. The wooden stools and oak barrel tables keep the nautical feel alive in this charming seafood joint. With no frills or overpriced checks, Russo’s full focus will always be on cooking up freshly caught seafood for their customers.

Russo’s Seafood Restaurant, 209 E 40th St. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 341 8848

Front Sign

Kayak Kafé Midtown

Get your Mexican fix at Kayak Kafé Midtown for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Kayak Kafé offers an upbeat dining atmosphere among colorful decor, palms, and savory Mexican platters. Simple and fresh ingredients make these tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and sandwiches stand out as some of the best in town. They only serve local Georgia shrimp, so your seafood selection also guarantees the utmost quality and is always environmentally conscious. Enjoy a quick and healthy meal with friendly staff any time of day.

Kayak Kafé, 5002 Paulsen St. Savannah, GA, USA +1 912 349 4371

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