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Soul Food options in Savannah?

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I picked up a free magazine called WELL FED SAVANNAH. Inside there was a ballot to vote for the "best" soul food in town. Although not a local, I've been eating around town a lot in the past few months and had only seen one of these places and hadn't read anything about any of them. So I'm offering them up here for comment or to inspire someone to explore:

Nevaeh's Soul Food: 2705 Bull Street 912.232.3319 (NO HOURS LISTED)

Neighborhood Soul Food: 504 1/2 West 42nd Street 912.234.5081 (6AM-6PM, closed Sun)

Masada Cafe: 2301 W Bay Street 912.234.9499 (11AM-4PM on Tues/Weds, to 5pm Thurs-Sat, closed Sunday and Monday)

A Taste of Heaven: 2401 Waters Ave 912.349.6022 (NO HOURS LISTED)

Narobia's Grits and Gravy: 2019 Habersham 912.231.0563 (6AM-3pm Mon-Fri and 7AM-3pm Sat)

The Garden of Eden: 714 MLK Jr Blvd 912.349.1420 (7AM-5pm Mon-Fri, 11AM-6pm Sunday)

For those non-locals who might come across this list - make sure you call for hours. Lots of local places close variably in the late afternoon.
If anyone can recommend one of these places I'll try to squeeze in one last meal in before I head out of town.

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  1. I grew up in Savannah and visit often, but I've never visited any of the places you've listed. They could be perfectly fine. And I suppose it depends on how you define soul food. When I want soul food I want standards like collards, fried chicken, meat loaf, beef tips and gravy over rice, mac and cheese, corn bread and yeast rolls, bread pudding and other comfort foods. I'm not looking for modern interpretations, nor to I look for over-the-top over fatted soul food. I want it flavorful and rich, but not laden in butter and salt and sugar for no reason.

    My go-to spot is United House of Prayer. Delicious fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collards and something with gravy are usually on the steam tables. A massive and tasty fried seafood plate are available on Friday, and ox tails appear on the menu at least once a week.

    Sisters of the New South is quite good. I've only gone once, but I enjoyed it. My Mom, who is pretty picky about what she eats and would usually prefer to eat her own cooking, goes there fairly regularly.

    This may sound strange, but the Magnolia Cafe in the Desoto Hilton is very good. I go there almost every time I visit. The chicken rivals my Mom's, the greens are good and they know when they see me coming that I'm angling for the bread pudding.

    To me, Savannah soul food is seafood. Nancy's and Seafoodelicious rock. They'll sell you blue crabs and shrimp fresh, or get seasoned crabs or conch. Get. The. Garlic. Crabs. Extra sauce. It is not healthy, but it is delicious.

    I never had shrimp and grits while growing up, but the Planter's Tavern does the dish very well. It's not soul food, but it's one of my favorite spots. It's in the basement of the Old Pink House. The prices are the same as above ground, but the vibe is more relaxed. There are two huge fireplaces on either end of the room and usually someone playing piano. They take requests. I order the shrimp and grits appetizer as an entree. It's not cheap, but it's worth it.

    Enjoy your visit!

    United House Of Prayer
    (912) 236-8877
    1805 Ogeechee Rd
    Savannah, GA 31415

    United House Of Prayer
    (912) 236-8877
    1805 Ogeechee Rd
    Savannah, GA 31415

    Sisters of the New South
    Place page
    2607 Skidaway Road
    Savannah, GA 31404-3827
    (912) 335-2761

    Nancy's Seafood
    (912) 236-3688
    1302 W Bay St, Savannah, GA 31415

    (912) 356-9988
    4435 Skidaway Rd
    Savannah, GA 31404

    Planters Tavern

    7 Replies
    1. re: Nichele

      I love the House of Prayer, a/k/a Daddy Grace's Cafeteria, here in DC. I will be in Savannah in March and will check out its brethren. Any other chowish suggestions? Will be downtown at DeSoto which you approve of.

      1. re: nickdanger

        Get some pecan pralines from Savannah Sweets on Riverstreet, in Oglethorpe Mall or on Skidaway Blvd. They kick New Orleans' pralines' butt. Take a box home. Delicious.

        OH! You MUST go to The Breakfast Club on Tybee Island. You'll need a car. My sister loves the Blackhawk Burrito, which is filled with black beans, chicken, cheese and fried. They make the most of local produce and seafood (the restaurant is close to the beach); they were one of the caterers at John Kennedy Jr.'s wedding down on nearby Cumberland Island.
        Go early or late (I think they close at 2 p.m., but check) or be prepared to stand in line for a bit.

        Definitely go to the Planter's Tavern. And enjoy! The azaleas will be in bloom, and 'zaleas are to Savannah what cherry blossoms are to DC!

        Safe travels,

        Breakfast Club
        1500 Butler Ave, Tybee Island, GA 31328

        1. re: Nichele

          Spring in GA! What else is there on Tybee Is? I always wanted to go there

          1. re: nickdanger

            As a forty two year resident of Savannah with a home on Tybee, for the life of me I cannot figure people's fascination with the Breakfast Club. The ffod is mediocre, it's expensive, and the coffee is weak. Like most things Savannah, it is a social attraction

            Breakfast Club
            225 N Caldwell St, Charlotte, NC 28202

              1. re: Littleman

                I agree. Clarys has a good Southern style breakfast. Both locations.

              2. re: sarge

                Reasonable people can disagree on The Breakfast Club and other spots. Sarge, you're right about the coffee. However, I've never had a bad meal there and everyone I've taken there has enjoyed it. I like Clary's, both locations, but it's nothing special. It's a couple steps up from the two tasty, straightforward breakfast places run by the same Asian family: Sunny Side Up on Derenne and The Breakfast Place on Victory near Skidaway. Sarge, what places on Tybee do you recommend?

                Breakfast Club
                225 N Caldwell St, Charlotte, NC 28202

                Sunny Side Up
                2917 Zebulon Rd, Rocky Mount, NC 27804

                The Breakfast Place
                2130 E Victory Dr, Savannah, GA 31404