Family Friendly Savannah: Historic District South

Historic District South · american, burgers, southern

The building at Jones and Jefferson opened in the early 1900s as the Gerken Family Grocery Store. William 'Blocko' Manning and his wife Connie bought it in the early 1930s, and the house history says it is rumored Blocko ran illegal hooch and a speakeasy during Prohibition. The Crystal calls itself one of the first American eating establishments to serve alcohol after repeal ... burgers were 30 cents and draft beer a dime. The Monroe Room is named for Monroe Whitlock, who worked there about 45 years. John Nichols runs it now, and Savannah Magazine readers picked it for the best burger in 2026.

Historic District South · soul food, southern, breakfast

A soul food cafe opened by four siblings in memory of their mother, Kimberly, who died in 2021. The venue calls itself the home of the Oxtails and Grit Bowl and says it looks out for homeless families in the community. A local's post about the meatloaf drew one of the bigger food threads of the year, with others chiming in on the oxtails, shrimp and grits, and spaghetti made on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Historic District South · southern

In 1943 a young Sema Wilkes took over a boardinghouse on Jones Street and began feeding lodgers Southern food served family-style. The lodging is gone but the lunch table is not ... guests are seated at large tables for ten and share the platters with strangers. It is lunch only on weekdays, dine-in only, and the house takes cash or checks, with an ATM on site. Savannah Magazine readers named it the 2026 winner for both fried chicken and Southern cooking.