Our Readers Have Spoken
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BEST ICE CREAM LEOPOLD’S ICE CREAM OUR READERS HAVE SPOKEN. And the 2012 Best OF Savannah AWards GO to… Compiled by Margaret Harney, Allison Hersh, Colleen McNally, Eric Ramirez and Alison Wyland Photography by Beau Kester, Katie McGee and Tim Willoughby 118 SAVANNAHMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 119 BEST Barbecue Wiley’S DINING Championship BBQ Asian this historic former tavern offers www.luluschocolatebar.net ICE Cream King & I a brunch that goes beyond the Runner-up: Back in the Day Bakery Leopold’s Ice Cream Tucked away in a quiet sleepy two-egg scramble and, With help from Academy Southside strip mall, this jewel according to our readers, makes Fine DininG Award-nominated set designer in the culinary crown of restau- the weekend wakeup totally The Olde Pink House Dan Lomino, movie producer rateur Ele Tran has edged out worthwhile. There are only three venues Stratton Leopold brought his even Ele’s eponymous restau- www.bmatthewseatery.com in town where you can enjoy family’s scrumptious Savannah rant in the Asian category. We Runner-up: J. Christopher’s New Southern cuisine in an landmark back to life, circa 1935. credit Savannahians’ love affair 18th century mansion—and all With frozen treats scooped from with Thai food to the fact that Business Lunch of them are inside The Olde the original, top-secret Leopold it’s sweet and spicy—just like Soho South Café Pink House. For the ultimate in family recipes, this old-fashioned we are. Business meets pleasure at this fine dining, our readers enter parlor and shrine to movie magic www.kingandisavannah.com bustling Liberty Street luncheon- through the front door and savor serves up nothing short of a Runner-up: Ele Fine Fusion ette, where Savannah maga- Savannah delicacies such as childhood dream. zine readers often round out a she-crab soup and blue crab www.leopoldsicecream.com Barbecue gourmet sandwich with a side beignets. Runner-up: Coldstone Creamery Wiley’s Championship BBQ of zesty tomato-basil bisque. Runner-up: Elizabeth on 37th This is far from the first accolade This cheerful four-time Best Independent Wiley and Janet McCrary have of Savannah winner is always Fried Chicken COFFee SHOP won for their tender ribs and packed with locals—and work by Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room Sentient Bean juicy brisket. Sitting comfortably area artists. For four generations, the Wilkes Fair-trade, organic coffee is just atop the rack of local barbeque www.sohosouthcafe.com family has served up crispy one of the ways “The Bean” joints, Wiley’s regularly smokes Runner-up: Toucan Café fried chicken and succulent has been enlivening Savannah the competition at regional and Southern sides in this retired for the past 11 years. Founder national cookoffs. Cupcakes boarding house, where locals Kristin Russell’s social calendar www.wileyschampionshipbbq.com Gigi’s Cupcakes and tourists line up along Jones is always packed with live music, Runner-up: Blowin’ Smoke BBQ Local franchise owner Bethany Street to score a spot at one of regular poetry readings, film Schantz has made a feast of the communal tables. Leave screenings and art shows—and BreakFast frosting. She puts a towering your belt—and your reserve—at her all-vegetarian menu keeps J. Christopher’s topping on her creatively flavored home. herbivores coming back for Even when they wake up on confections, which include the www.mrswilkes.com more. the wrong side of the bed, our champagne cupcake with edible Runner-up: The Lady and Sons www.sentientbean.com readers count on J. Christopher’s pearls and the so-Southern Runner-up: Gallery Espresso for a morning that’s sunny-side- Caramel Sugar Mama. HamburGer up. After eating one of the oven- www.gigiscupcakesusa.com Green Truck Pub Italian roasted potato skillets or fresh, Runner-up: Back in the Day Bakery It’s a beautiful thing when you Bella’s Italian Café colorful omelets at this Georgia- can inhale a deluxe cheeseburger This family-friendly neighbor- based franchise on Liberty Desserts without guilt or regret. Even hood eatery is Joyce Shanks’ Street, there’s no going back to Lulu’s Chocolate Bar after locking down the Best New homage to the recipes of her egg whites and instant coffee. Willy Wonka may have had a Restaurant title last year, this Grandma Bella—including hearty www.jchristophers.com chocolate waterfall, but Lulu grass-fed burger bar still takes pasta fagiola and creamy mani- Runner-up: The Breakfast Club has a chocolate martini, mousse no shortcuts. Salad dressings, cotti. Regulars abound at this towers and a decadent white pickles and ketchup are made Habersham Village gathering Brunch chocolate raspberry crème on-site daily from local organic spot, a winner in this category B. Matthew’s brulee. All desserts are made ingredients. since 2007. Home of the black-eyed pea from scratch at this beloved www.greentruckpub.com www.bellascafe.com cake sandwich and apple, nightspot and bar—often to the Runner-up: Five Guys Burgers Runner-up: Leoci’s Trattoria walnut and bourbon chutney, tune of live music. and Fries Ethics: Reader votes—and Tradition: As part of Procedure: We only Disclaimer: We can’t Yes, only reader votes—deter- the area’s largest news accept one ballot per control how individuals mine a Best of Savannah organization, we strictly person. Duplicate ballots campaign for Best of IT’S winner. As with all of our limit our role to tallying and those without a verifi- Savannah; we can only LEGIT, editorial, there is no pay and reporting votes—with able name and address are monitor how accurately Y’all! for play. Period. the exception of labeled automatically disqualified. the votes are counted. “Editors’ Picks.” 120 SAVANNAHMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 121 BEST NEW RESTAURANT DINING A.LURE LOWCOUNTRY CUISINE Kid-Friendly vegetarian-friendly East Broad platters of fresh local shrimp, sandwich, which recently earned DininG Street dining destination also briny oysters, tangy BBQ and, of raves on the Travel Channel. Cancun encourages diners to eat local. course, an impressive selection You can recognize the tiny York We all know what picky eaters www.cha-bella.com of crab offerings. BYOB: Bring Street location by the workweek our little ones can be. When Runners-up, Organic: Green Truck your own bib. lunch line that extends down vegetables are a no-go or Pub and Thrive Café www.thecrabshack.com the block. there’s a boycott on any dish Runner-up, Vegetarian: Goose Runner-up: Love’s Seafood and www.zunzis.com with “things” in it, Cancun’s Feathers Steaks Runner-up: Carey Hilliard’s Americanized Mexican menu has been known to win over even Outdoor/ Smoothie YOGurt the tiniest taste buds. Celebrate WaterFront Smoothie King Lovin’ Spoons this victory with a cold cerveza DininG The answer to the liquid lunch, This funky little fro-yo place has or two. Bonna Bella Waterfront Grille these super-sized smoothies plenty of moxie, from the groovy Runner-up: Jalapenos Mexican Grill This four-time Best of Savannah claim to be function-based, ’70s-style décor to the sassy, winner’s stunning waterfront meaning that some promote Georgia peach-flavored yogurt. MEXican views provide the perfect weight loss while others give you Create your own masterpiece Jalapeños Mexican Grill backdrop for a memorable dining a boost of energy or assist with with self-serve toppings ranging When you can hear your fajitas experience. The menu offers muscle gain. Whatever your from fresh fruit to candy bars to sizzling all the way to your fresh seafood and steaks along aim, the Broughton Street stop breakfast cereal. With so many table, you know you’ve found with sandwiches and fish tacos, can refill your tank and get you stir-in options, you’ll never go a Mexican restaurant worth plus plenty of options for kids. back on the retail road in no time. back to plain ol’ vanilla again— its margarita salt. A Best of But, with a great selection of www.smoothieking.com unless, of course, that’s what Savannah winner for five consec- wine and cocktails, a babysitter Runner-up: The Sentient Bean you want. utive years, Arnold Castellanos’ might not be a bad idea after all. www.lovinspoons.com bustling local chain is known www.bonnabellayachtclub.com Steak Runner-up: La’ Berry for fast, consistent service and Runners-up, Outdoor Dining: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse tasty (but hard-to-pronounce) Blowin Smoke BBQ and The Crab The New York Strip never seemed chilaquiles. Shack so “New York.” This citified www.jalapenosinc.com Runner-up, Waterfront Dining: fine-dining chain and four-time Runner-up: Cancun Vic’s on the River Best of Savannah winner is still Editors’ Pick the reigning steakhouse king—er, NEW Restaurant PIZZA queen—delighting carnivores TWO-FER: A.lure Lowcountry Cuisine Vinnie Van Go Go’s across the Coastal Empire. Two Smart Cookies Fans of Kasey’s Gourmet Grille Prepare to fold and devour www.ruthschris.com I may be 35, but when these were thrilled when restaurateur these oversized, New York City- Runner-up: Outback Steakhouse ladies hand me a cookie cut Daniel Berman brought his flair style slices in seconds. Fresh in the shape of a butterfly for culinary creativity downtown mozzarella cheese, made-daily Sushi and topped with pink icing, I to Congress Street. True to its dough and prime outdoor Ele- Fine Fusion regress to a pigtailed preteen. playful name, A.lure brings fresh, seating overlooking City Market Regardless of how you roll, the But I also get to indulge my local seafood to the table, along set this local favorite apart sushi chef at Ele- Fine Fusion is grown-up taste with an over- with landlubber favorites such from the competition.